ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3438, 18 April 1879, Page 4

ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

BT. MARY'S, MERIYAIJfi,

<The annual meeting oE t) j0 gt Mary's Church parishioners, Mcriv^ lOj wa3 held in the Merivale Schoolroom night. There ■were only eight persons, present, the Eov T. JTlaveU in tho ohau\ Tho report and balarcc aliect wo^ taken, as road and udoptod. Tho report IB as follows :— " The churchwardens now submit to tho parishioners the tenth annual report and uUitomont of accounts for tho period ending Eaßtor, 187'J. Tho year commenced with a debit balance of £75 13s lid ; and after paying all ordinary current expenses and £127 12s for repairing and painting the church and parsonage, referred to iu lust report, the account closes with a balanco duo by the parish to the Bank of Kew South "Wales of £142 19s 3d. The debt on the parsonage and eohool has been reduced to £159 18a lid. 'Xho totnl income for tho year amounts to £598 Is 2d, and tho expenditure (including tho sum staled above as paid for repairs and improvements) for- tho same period to £t>6s Cu 6d. The church, parsonage, and schoolroom are in goad ropair ; &o hitter has during tho year been enlarged and improved, at a cost of £82 15s 7d, which was more than covered Ijt special coHectioiu mado by tho incumbent, to whose earnest and energetic labours in the parish 'tho churchwardens horo take tho opportunity of testifying. A handsome lectern and reading desk have also been erected in tho chilrch, and the hearty thanks oi the congregation aro duo to FlaTell for collecting tho subscriptions, f.hich havo fully defrayed Iheir -cost. Tho swish is also indented to Mrs Studholme 'for tho handsOtie ultar cloth, uad to Mrs Gterrick for the chan-tel-carpet. Tl>o thanks ct tho congregation are. especially duo to tho honorary organist and the. chcir for their most oilicitnt services. A list of contributors to tho stipend fund, enlargement of schoolroom, and lectern 'lb appended horoto." The Her T. Plavdll stated that cSnVing the past year there had beon serious chtngos in the parish, and those changes had altered the constitution of the Vestry. The offico of ravish warden bad been faithfully filled by Mr Isaac Gribbs, and he would like that gentleznan to bo Minister's Churchwarden for tho current year. Ho, therefore, had pleasure in appointing Mr Isaac Gibbs an luV-Warden for the coming j oar. Ulr Gibbs thanked the Rev T. Flavell for appointing him, and said ho would do all he could to make tho parish successful. Mr J. S. Jameson was appointed parishioners' Warden for the coming year.

The Ecv Chairman said thn next business

was tho election of not moro than ton nor less than three Vestrymen. It had been a comfort to him to such vestrymen in last year, as thoßO now retiring. Tho following vostrymen wer9 then appointed : — Messrs George Diclinscn, John Merson, A. Stringer, E. H. IRhodes, John Mann, J. A.'Willey, A. Moore, B. Bastriclf, W. Hayward, and H. W. Wood, A "vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring

vestrymen, and to Mr Gibbs, who had acted aschurchwurden. A hearty vote of thanks was also accorded to the choir and organist. Tho Rov T. Flavell spoke iu eulogistic terms of Mr J. Jameson's services, and of tho choir und organist. Ho hoped next j car would bo as -happy and as useful as tho jrast year. Tho election ofaSynodoman was the next fcusinoss. Mr Isaac Qibba, Returning Oflicei 1 , eaid thoro was only one nomination, viz., Mr H. Selwyn Smith. Ho wouM, therefore, declare that gentleman duly rk'cted. The Rov. T. Flavell said it was a matter for congratulation that Mr Smith had been elected to so important a position. A volo of thanks to tho chair terminated Iho proceedings.