EASTER MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1911, 20 April 1874, Page 2

EASTER MEETINGS.

St. Paul's, PAPANtrr. 'I he annual parish meeting was held in the church schoolroom on Friday evening last. The incumbent, tho Rev F. G. Brittan, occupied the chair, and opened tho meeting with prayer. i The minutes' of last general meeting were road and confirmed. The Chairman said, beforo proceeding to the business of the evening, he wished to make a few remarks with reference to church work in the parish for tho last six months, during which time he had had the privilege of labouring amongst them. He desired to acknowledge gratefully the kind reception he had met with at Papanui amongst all classes, which had done much to make his work a pleasing one. Tho Sunday Bervices in St. Paul's Church continued to bo well attended. Tho appropriated seats were almost all taken, an t tho free scats were invariably well filled. Ho thought it would be well if it wero made generally known that all seats in the church were free as soon as tho bell had stojiped. An evening Sunday service had been commenced, and proved successful, the attendance being largor than in the morning. One or two improvements had been made in tho interior of tho church, notably tho laying down of a new carpet in the chancel — a Christmas gift by the ladies of Papanui, tho money having been collected through the exertions of Mrs E. 8. Bell. An early Communion had been held once in each month, and had been taken advantage of by some, who found it more convenient than the mid-day celebration. The numbers of tho Sunday school kept up well, but, as elsewhere, they suffered from a lack of teachers. Being compelled to take a class himself, he had to put off the services in tho outlying churches to an inconvenient hour in the "* afternoon. A library had lately been established in connection with the Sunday School, and was highly appreciated by both children and parents. The difficulty of providing books had been met in a great measure by a liberal grant of books from the Papanui Library Committee. At Harewood road, services had oeen held every Sunday morning either by himself or the lay reader, Mr Mayo. He payed a high compliment to tho manner in which Mr Mayo had performed his self-imposed duties. The Sunday-school there was in a flourishing condition. At the North road ho waa only able to take services twice in each month. Ho would be glad to hear of anyone willing to act as lay reader, by whoso aid the church might be kept open every Sunday. A Sunday-school had lately been established there. With reference to the Government day schools, he wished to __ acknowledge the ready permission which ~" had been granted by the local comi mittees, both at Papanui and Harewood road, to c his request to be permitted to giro religious instruction in those tchoolsr-

and also the general acceptance of the same by the people. Almost every child, without exception, in both schools attended the Bible lesson which he gave once a week. He wished to return his sincere thanks to the churchwardens and vestrymen for the manner in which they had co-operated with him in the work of the parish. The accounts for the past year were then read by the churchwarden (Mr Wm. Norman), .showing a small balance in hand, ull expenses Laving been paid. On the motion of Mr H. llatson , seconded by Sir G. Harper, the report was received. The chairman then nominated Mr Wm. Norman as clergyman's churchwarden, and Mr Mayo was elected people's churchwarden for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen : — Messrs G. Harper, H. Matson, J. Stanley, G. Dunnage, J. Johns., G. Durey, J. Durey, 0. Newton, J. Bell, and Capt. E. S. Bell. It was stated that a debt of £100 still existed upon the parsonage, and the meeting resolved that a subscription list be started to pay off the same ; also, that a gift auction should be held early in the spring for the same object, the surplus, if any, to be devoted towards improving the church, Messrs Freestone, Eldred, and othera undertaking to collect subscriptions. Votes of thanks were passed unanimously to the organist and choir, the retiring vestry, and the chairman. The meeting was closed with the benediction. TEiIPLETON. There was a very good attendance at the annual meeting on Friday, April 7 ; the incumbent (the Rer W. E. Paige) in the chair. Prayers having been read, The Chairman said he was very happy to find that the attendance at the services had not fallen off, although they had been so long without the church, and had at first to put ■up with the discomfort of tho old schoolroom. They were now well off in tho new school, but he hoped wheu the church was finished many would attend who now stayed away, and he looked forward to the time when they would be obliged to lengthen the church for extra sitting room. As they would shortly elect a new vestrj he would thank the •old members for the cordial support he had roeeived from them, and would take the present opportunity of saying how sorry he was that the old churchwardens — Messrs Tosswill and Stead man — were leaving the district. He must also thank Mr Morgan for getting the church ready on all occasions, keeping it clean and the general assistance rendered by him. He would now call on the churchwardens to read the balance-sheet, which was a3 follows: — Receipts from offorfceries and surplice fees, £33 11s 7d ; sale of burial plots, £14 14s, Out of this had been paid— books and prizes. Sunday school, £4 Is 6d ; parsonage, insurance and repairs, £8 12s ; churchyard, £12 3s 6d ; Diocesan treasurer, £12 2s Id ; church enlargement and spire. The bell turret and two transepts, to hold about 50 additional seats, was nearly finished, from a design of Mr Mountfort, to cost £225, besides extras ; of this about £180 had been promised, and £117 collected. A bell from Warner and Sons, was now on its way in the Mallard, and would be hero very soon. All those who had promised subscriptions were asked to pay them in at once, as the money was wanted. Theclergyman's stipend had been regularly paid, and lists, showing each person's subscription, were laid before the meeting. The whole of the churchyard border had been thoroughly trenched and planted with good trees, bo that, in a few years, the parish could look forward to having a handsome church and ornamental ■hurchyard. Tho report having been adopted, a resolution was passed that the new vestry be requeßted to take any steps they may think proper towards paying off a debt of £24 11s 6d owing to tho Rev. R. S. Jackson for the ■erection of the parsonage. The incumbent having nominated Mr S. ißailey for bis churchwarden, MrT. H. Anson was elected by the parishioners. The following persons wero then elected •vestrymen : — Messrs E. Blake, S. Barter, 8. Helms, G. Marsh, jun., J. Rogers, M. Smith. Auditors — Messrs Hodgins and Voice. A vote of thanks to Mrs Paige for her kindness in playingtho harmonium, carried unanimously, brought the meeting to a close.