ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1504, 11 May 1886, Page 2

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

The annual Easter meeting of members of the above church was held iu St. Mary’s Church schoolroom Inst Friday. Present The Rev. J. Preston, Incumbent (Chairman), and Messrs W. U. Slack, J. Kolland, Hawke, Brisco, Ooltman, W. E. Barker, and H. W. Moore, and Mr T. Hughes, and Dr Pish, Churchwardens. The Chairman read the minutes of the last annual meeting, also those of a vestry meeting held on 20th April. On the motion of Mr Hawke the minutes were confirmed. The Incumbent then read his annual report. It was to the effect that notwithstanding many drawbacks their position was good. Church work was progressing satisfactorily. With the help of 12 duly licensed lay readers he was able to hold morning and evening services in St. Mary’s, Geraldine, in the Peel Forest Church, and in the Church of Holy Innocents, Mount Peel. In St. Thomas’, Woodbury ; in the scboolhouse, Gapes’ Yalley ; and in the churches at Fairlie Creek and Burke’s Pass services were held once every Sunday, in St. Anne’s, Pleasant Valley and scboolhouse, Hilton, once a month ; and in the schoolhouse at Scotsburn and Orari occasionally. The Holy Communion wns administered ns follows Second Sunday in the month at St. Mary’s ; third Sunday at St. Thomas’; fourth Sunday in Peel Forest Church ; in Holy Innocent’s occasionally ; and in Fairlie Creek on the second Sunday of every second month. Seventy-five children had been baptised since last Easter, being an increase of eleven since last returns. The Sunday Schools were going on very satisfactorily, and he held Bible classes in the public school, Geraldine, from 9 a.m. to 9.30,, but was at a great disadvantage, owing to Government regulations. The congregation was greatly indebted to the Misses Fish for their services as organistea. Only that these ladies give their services gratuitously the musical part of the services could not be conducted so efficiently. Their gratitude was due to Mr Hughes also, who, until Mr Moore arrived in the pariah, held the office of choir-master. On his own behalf and on behalf of the church he thanked the lay-readers, the superintendent, and teachers of the Sunday School, Mr Barker, and all other church workers, Tnere was £9 4s lid to the credit of the Benevolent Fund ; the Sunday School Library was indebted to him to the extent of 7s 9d ; £2 4s 8d was to the credit of the Sunday School ; and £lB 14s lid was received and expended on the Sunday School treat and prizes. The Missioners from England would visit Temuka and Geraldine about the end of May, and it wguld be necessary to elect a

Working Committee to arrange matters connected with the mission. Mr Hughes, Parishioners’Churchwarden, read the report of the Churchwardens for the year, which was to the effect that £37 8« Gd had been collected for repairing the parsonage, and that £29 18s had been spent on it, the balance being expended on redecking the bridge over the creek leading to it. Mr W. Hawke bad gratuitously shingled the drive from the outer gate to the parsonage. The general account showed a deficit of £7 12s Bd. Their thanks were due to the collectors and to Mr Shiers for their valuable services.

Mr Hawke proposed, Mr Slack seconded, and it was carried unanimously —“ That the report and balance-sheat be adopted. The Treasurer for the Stipend Fund, Mr W. E. Barker, stated that on the whole the amount collected towards the stipend fund might be considered satisfactory. The sum subscribed up to date was £292 14s sd, against £297,17s Id collected last year. Dr Fish was re-elected Clergyman’s Churchwarden by the Incumbent. Mr vV. Coltman then proposed that Mr Hughes bo re-elected Parishioner’s Churchwarden.— That gentleman, however, stated that on account of his numerous duties he would be unable to undertake the work another year. —On the motion of Mr Hawke, seconded by Mr. Wv Barker, Mr H. W. Moore was unanimously electadParishioner’sChurchwarden; —Mr Moore briefly thanked those present, and expressed his willingness to discharge the duties to the boßt of his ability. The meeting then proceeded to elect a Vestry for the ensuing year, A list of names was submitted and ultimately It was resolved—“ That the following gentlemen be elected a Vestry : —Messrs Hughes, Coltman, Slack, Fearpoint, Kelland, Pizzey, Brisco, Hawke, and Pye. The following gentlemen were reappointed collectors to the Stipend Fund; —Mr W. E. Barker (Treasurer), and Messrs W. U. Slack, W. Hawke, Gillingham, Mitton, Dennistoun, C. G.- Tripp, Hesketh, Kelland, Cochrane, a«d H. W. Moore. Votes of thanks were unanimously, passed to those gentlemen who had acted ns collectors to the Stipend Fund for the past year; to the Misses Fish for their indefatigable services as organistes; to Mr H. W. Moore for his services as choirmaster ; to the lay-renders, Sunday School teachers, and choir. A vote of thanks to’the rev. Chairman closed the meeting.

VESTRY MEETING. A meeting of the newly-elected Vestry was held immediately after the annual meeting, at which all the members yrero present. The Rev. J. Preston presided. The Chairman explained that the principal business of the meeting was to make arrangements for the reception of the missioners who are about to hold a mission in the parish from May 27th to Ist June, The incumbent was authorised to obtain the necessary books and papers and to make such arrangements as he thought necessary. On the motion of Dr Fish .it was decided tolhold a service in the church every Wednesday evening until the arrival of the missioners. ■ Mr H. W. Moore proposed, Dr Fish seconded, and it was carried unanimously —“ That the service be held in the church every Wednesday at 7.30 p.rn.” It was decided that the Vestry should give a guarantee to the Hank for the repayment of any overdraft on the Stipend account. It was also decided to transfer the Stipend account to the Bank of New South Wales, Geraldine. The meeting then closed.