ALL SAINTS' PARISH.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14408, 9 May 1917, Page 6

ALL SAINTS' PARISH.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of tho All Saints' parishioners was .iiekl in, tuo schoolroom last niglio, .wi-'ou.-the'vicar;-tho liev. J. A. iwgers, presided over a large attendance. ;

'me churchwardens' report was as ioliott s:-—

"in presenting the ' annual report and baiance-sshoet for the year ended March 31st, 1917, your, churchwardens are pleased to report that the revenue of tiie church has been well maintained notwithstanding the many calls the parishioners have had to face for patriotic and relief purposes during this long and, dreadful ume of war. The year has been of a. changeable character as regards its church services, special difficulties in arrangements being caused by the necessities of war-time. Wo regret that our vicar was' laid, up by a serious illness, during which ho had to undergo an operation. We are pleased to see him amongst1 us now looking well and hearty. Thanks are due to the Bishop of Nelson for kindly taking the services during our vicar's illness; Tl;e vicar and Mrs Rogers have also had painful experience of a Nelson Hood, the parsonage and schoolrooms being or.cc flooded out, causing much inconvenience. The ordinary offertories for the year amounted to- £319 10s 9d, an increase of £3 18s-9d compared with last year. The attendance has not greatly increased, the average being about 500 per Sunday. In the offertories, as usual, 6d and 3d coins predominnted. The pew rents revenue amounted to £114 10s, a decrease of £2-3 from that of- tl:o previous year. The renovating of the parsonage cost £'47 3s. We are indebted to the Mite Society for a £30 donation towards this work. On behalf of the parishioners, we desire to thank the. choir, organist and choirmaster, the belln'mrers, JUite Society, Sunday School teachers, and clu;rch decorators for their faithful work during the past year. The choir, under Mr Taifc (organist), has made great progress, and we have increased his salary from October Ist, 1916. We have recently been able, by the help of a few parieHoners, to' robe the choristers in cassocks and surplices." The balance-sheets of the parish, Mite Society, All Saints' Sunday School, the Port Mission Hall and the Port Sunday School all showed credit balances.

The vicar, in his report, thanked thewardens and vestry for 'their loyalty to the cause of the Church during the past year. The three Sunday schools were being well maintained. *Mr Eobinson, superintendent of All Saints' Sunday School, was now engaged in •tire-Defence Office at Wellington, and the vicar hoped that someone would come forward to fill the vacant position of superintendent. Mrs JBowden and Mrs Mercer (Vanguard street) had not felt physically able to continue their assistance a,« Sunday School workers. The value of what they had done in a long period of years was recognised. It was regretted that the Sunday Schools were not supported either morally or financially by many of the parents as they shoujd be. Tho appearance, tone, and general behaviour of tho choir, which was now robed, left no room for adverse criticism. The gymnasium had been restarted, and was being availed of by a large number of young men. He thanked tie members of the Sowers' Band, the Girls' Friendly Society, and the Mite Society for their work during tho year.

Mr Tait, in his report a.s organist and choirmaster, mentioned the good attendance at practices, and remarked that during the' past year nearly 40 anthems for use at the Sunday services had been rehearsed, besides hundreds ox chants, hymns, etc. The vicar re-appointed Mr. G. A. Harknes-s as his warden, and Mr A. E. ; Cress-neii was -unanimously reeleeted as people's war3en.

The following were, elected as members of the vestry: Messrs W. A. Andrews, Austin, *&'. F. Bolton, E. E. Boyes, C. .11. Cfoote, Fieldes,lSt< rbng,'.R. "Watson, J. F: v : Wright/ and H; York. '•■

Mr':E. E. Boyes was re-elected as auditor.. v

During the evening the Sunday School choir gave .a., spirited rendering of "The Hundred Pipers." Refreshments were handed round by ladies of the congregation, and the meeting closed with tho singing of the National Anthem.