STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 26 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

I HOLY TRINITY CHURCH PARISHIONERS' ANNUAL MEETING. ' At the animaf meeting of parishioners of Holy Trinity Church on Friday evening, the vicar, the Rev. W. A. Butler, SLA., presided over an attendance of 22 parishioners. The balance-sheet showed that the year commenced with a credit balance of I £79 os, and ended with a debit balance of £SO Cs 9d. The principal items of revenue were: Offertories £11)8 lis lOd, and subscriptions £BS 18s. Grants totailed £55 los 7d (Toko £l3 19s 6d, Cardiff £23 18s, Midhirst £2 18s, Taranaki Church Trustees £ls). Expenditure amounted to £072 17s 9d, of which stipend accounted for £237 10s, Parish Hall £273 17s 3d, reduction on vicarage loan £2O. Liabilities (including vicarage.-en-largement loan £l4O, and Parish Hall and cottage loan £700) were shown at £945 Is 3d, and these were exceeded by the. assets by £137 14s 9d. The vicar, in reviewing the work of the year, said that spiritually, as far as one could form an opinion, the church was just about holding its own. It had | been impossible to make very much progress, for the work had become too heavy for one man, and they really had cause to be thankful that the church had not gone back spiritually because of this. Referring to the financial position, the vicar said the position was better j than appeared from the balance-sheet, and, had it not been for the extraordinary expenditure in several directions, including £ 100 spent on additions to the hall, the church had suffered tremendously through changes in the congregation. ' The vicar expressed his gratitude to Messrs. Liddington and Wilson for their help in taking the morning services on alternate- Sundays. Regarding the choir, the boys were at full strength, the ladies also, but there was a great difficulty with regard to the men. Sometimes it had seemed almost that the choral service must fall through. However, he had hopes of some new members [joining the choir. In regard to music, they labored under great disabilities, for the organ was unable to lead and hold j the singing. The Sunday School was the brightest spot in the church work—about J 180 or 200 scholars—but here again there j was a dearth of workers, particularly male teachers for the boys' classes. Miv Kivell, the superintendent, was managing the school excellently ,and controlling it with the greatest tact. Things were not always easy for him, but he always seemed to take things cheerfully. Referring to the Boy Scouts, a matter very close to his heart, and a matter in which he felt that he was not getting the sympathy deserved from the congregation, the vicar said that whilst not a ; church organisation the Boy Scouts contained some thirty Church Of England lads, with whom he would be very unlikely to come in contact but for his i Scout work amongst them, There were k boys of other denominations there, of .! course—he, wished there were more—for 1 he would like to build up boys into good I honest citizens, loyal to whatever church 1 they might belong. In regard to the * church day schoo), the vicar said this J was not a parish school but a private .' venture, in which he was endeavoring to j build up for the future of the church. The speaker also touched on the Bible-in- ' Schools question. He was in favor of it. It was too ; important for apathetic treat- ' ment. They must cither go strongly for ; or against it, and he asked all church peopie to consider the matter earnest!}'. , .As to the assistant clergyman, there had > been no success yet in engaging one. He thought there should be no difficulty in financing such an appointment. There was a possibility of a suitable man be- , ing secured shortly. The secretary to the Vestry, Mr. W. H. 11. Young, reported that nothing had been done in the matter of enlarging the church, recommended at the last annual meeting. The Vestry had decided to issue debenturqs totalling £IOO to the parishioners to finance the Parish Hall additions, and it would he for the incoming Vestry to put this scheme into oper-: ation. Mr. Young also explained that the credit balance brought forward from last year had been expended in paying off accounts outstanding at the beginning of the vear.

Mr. T. C. Fookes remarked that offertories and grants from the country districts showed a falling-oIT, which was not very encouraging, for these formed the principal revenue for the Vestry's operations. The Vicar said lie had noticed a fall-ing-off in congregations. The average number of communicants, who were the most liberal givers, had fallen off considerably, and the evening congregations were smaller. The secretary said that, perhaps the heavy calls on the congregation for £2OO for the Parish Hall in the previous year had made people less liberal in their contributions. Possibly, if the church were made more comfortable and less draughty, the congregations might be better. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, on the motion of Messrs. W. V. Wilson and G. W. Mills. The vicar re-appointed Mr. A. C. Bell as his warden, and Mr. A. F. Grant was elected people's warden, unopposed. The following vestrymen were elected: Messrs. J. H. llobbs,' G. Liddington, T. Partridge, Middleton, W. H. 11. Young, T. C. Fookes, (!. W. Mills, Stanley, E. H. Kivell and Rogers (Cardiff). A complaint was made by the Sunday School superintendent that the Parish Hall, now used both as a day school and a Sunday School, was left by the former in a disgraceful state—Referred to the Vestry for prompt action. Some discussion took place concerning the need for installing a heating apparatus in the church, and some improvement will be effected.

TARIKI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY One of the most enjoyable ami successful socials yet held at Tariki was that of Thursday evening, under the auspices of the Tariki Horticultural Society. The Society is evidently managed by very thorough-going people, for the arrangements on Thursday were excellent. The floor had been well prepared, and dancing was a pleasure. Messrs. A. Richardson (piano) and Kelly (cornet) provided capital music. Songs were sung during the evening hy Mrs. Rudkin and Miss Jamieson, Mrs. .Tones playing the accompaniments, besides which she played for the extra dances. The supper was, as usual, of the best. The last dance was called at 1.30.

TARANAKI SCOTTISH SOCIETY The Stratford branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, having decided on holding its annual social on June 10 last, a meeting was held at Messrs. C. and K .lackson's office yesterday with a view of making the preliminary arrangements, for last year's gathering set a high standard to excel, which will take a deal of work. The Chief of

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t)ie Society, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, who is president of the Stratford branch, presided over ii large attendance of both ladies and gentlemen. After some discussion on the form this year's gathering should take, it was decided to delete the G o'clock visitors' tea from' the programme, and to hold a Scottish concert and ball. The matter of engaging talent for the concert was left to a committee, whose members will bo appointed later. The whole of those present then formed themselves into a committee to conduct the gathering. It was decided to invite tenders for the catering. The committee will meet again 'next. Wednesday at the same place.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS On fhursday evening.one of the most successful functions held in Midhirst in connection with the Methodist Church eventuated, the Midhirst people turning out in large, .numbers to welcome the Rev. Edward Bandy, who is to make the country churches in the circuit his especial care. , The Stratford Methodist Choir supplied the. programme, and addresses were given by Messrs. Mail, Wright, Smith, Robinson and the Revs. Reader and Bandy. W.Kerr, a letter-carrier, brought from Palmerston the practice of cycling on a footpath to the nearest culvert when delivering letters. Inspector Barlow has made it quite clear that no such use of the footpaths is permitted in Stratford* and the carrier was fine ss, without costs, at yesterday's sitting of the S.M. Court. Roy Judge, for a similar offence, was fined 10s and costs, but he was not a letter-carrier.

At the S.M. Court on Friday IT. Gray ' was fined 10s and costs for failing to register a dog. Stratford "soccer" players played a drawn game with Kaponga at Kaponga on Thursday, neither side scoring. Mr. Alex. Stewart, better known as "Sandy" Stewart, and a popular farmer in this district, has purchased Mr. Taylor's farm at Ratapiko. Messrs. W. H. H. Young and Co. negotiated the deal. No heads have heen broken yet concerning the municipal elections. Householders' annual meeting at the school on Monday night v at 7 o'clock. Cheap Rent.—The Presbyterians own the church building at Toko, and other denominations using it are charged ninepence for each daylight service, and lifteenpence for night.services.