PARISH MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6467, 22 April 1899, Page 7

PARISH MEETINGS.

... M, MARY'S, C4ERALDINE. The anntial meeting of the parishionars of Geraldine was held on Thursday afternoon, the Rev Staples Hamilton presiding. The new * vicar having been in the parish only two months, was not in a position to give an uitnual report of the church work, but made a verbal statement, expressing deep sorrow at the death of the late vicar, arid submitting a plan of services he intended to hold during the coming year. He now hud the services of the Rev J. Knox Barklie us curate, and, with his assistance, could hold double the number of clergyman's services that had been held in the past. Colonul Moore 'read the churchwardens' report, which showed an increase of £25 in fclie offertories. The" expenses, however, had buen heavier, owing to repairs to the vicarage. The church debt" of £35 had been paid off by subscriptions collected by Mr R. H. Orbell, and the parish was now entirely free of. debts on church buildings. As it was considered that the Geraldine parish was too widespread for one clergyman to work, the services of the Rev J. Knox Barklie as curate hud been obtained for £100 per annum, arid the vicar's stipend having been fixed at £240 in place of £260, the parish had only to raise £55 extra, the Church Property Trustees having granted £25 towards the- curate's stipend. The vicar rciiciminatf! ir l Colonel Moore clergyman's churchwarden, anvl Mr M, C. Orbell was rtajiuointed parishioners' churchwarden. The following vestrymen were elected: — Messrs T?; Burns, P. W. Stubbs, J. W. Pye, W. Hawke, Cr. J. Dennistoun, D. Muefarlaae, P. B. Bartrum, J. Bluckmovs, Graham and J. M. Barker. Recommendations were made to the vestry to include report£ . and balance-sheets of the other churches in the parish in the general report; to keep in view the question of erecting a new vicarage _near the church ; to convene a social meeting of parishioners to place before them questions of importance, such as the erection of a new vicarage, and also to welcome the new vicar. The Rev Mr Hamilton suggested that a church should be erected at Orari," in aid of which a gra.it , might be obtained from the Synod.