ST JOHN'S CHURCH, TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2629, 3 May 1904, Page 2

ST JOHN'S CHURCH, TE AWAMUTU.

Thk annual meeting of parishioners of St. John's Anglican Church, Te Awamutu, took pi ice in the Church on Saturday evening last. There was a small atteu* daDce. The Rev. J. T. McWUiam presided. The report an 1 balance sheet for the past year woro presented. The report stated : Since the last annual report submitted by the wardens and vestry ono or two matters of importance have transpired. In October last our present Vicar was appointed to the charge of this district, and since his arrival interest in church matters has improved throughout the district. and this improvement is particularly noticeable in the King Country districts. The question of building a vicarage has been kept in view, but tho site is not yet vested in any of the local authorities. The Mission Board has offered to lease to the veßtry the land surrounding the ohurch, and has offered to sell the freehold for £IOO. When it has been decided what course to pursue in regard to obtaining some valid title, whether leasehold or freehold, the building of the vicarage might be proceeded with as previously arranged. The large trees and other superfluous growth had been removed from the cemetery, but the aoaoia gtowth is likely to enure some trouble to keep in check. Tho finances arß still not bo satisfactory as might be desired. During tho year the general offertories showed an increase of about £8 over the previous year, but during the previous year they wire without a clergyman for about seven months Subscriptions to the stipend aooouot were only £4 in advance of tho pievious year. The two lay readers, Me-srs Bowden and Mandeno, continued throughout the year to conduct services both at Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, aud it was to be hoped that their services were appreciated by the parish inners as highly as tbey deserved to be. The Sunday-school continued to be a useful work in the parish, and the thanks of the parents were especially due to the superintendent and the teachers. Miss Mandeuo, the late organist, having removed from the district, Mrß Andrew kindly took up the position of organist At the end of January last Mrs Andrew relinquished the position, and the duties had since been carried on by Mrs Ahier and Mrs Jas. North. The thanks of the parishioners were due lo these ladies and to the members of the ohoir for their assistance in the services of the church.

The. following vestry were elected : Messrs R. S. Galbraith, C. A. Bowden, (J. Bowden, F. Potts, J. C Mandeno, J. F. Andrew, and Geo. Ahier. Auditor, Mr D. Bockett. Mr H. T. Collins was chosen as Minister's Warden and Mr W.N. von Sturmer as People's Warden. Some discussion took place with reference to having the cemetery closed It was brought to the notice of the meeting that a number of recent burials had taken place on old soldiers' graves. The Rev. Mr McWilliim addressed the meeting, giving a resume of the work done in the district since he was appointed. It was very gratityine to be able to say that th ere had been a marked improvement. The wardens had done their work thoroughly. With refereuce to the Maori Mission he urged upon the people to give every assistance in their power.

The balance-sheet for the year ended 31st Maroh, 1904, was read as followß : Receipts : Balance in hand, £l6 13s 7d ; offertories for year, general £SB 0s lOd. special £2 0s 8d ; fuhscriptions, £24 0a 6d ; donations, 17s 6d ; contributions to stipend from places other than Te Awamutu —Pirongia £3O, Rangiaohla £22, Kihikihi £2O, Otorohanga £5 18s 4d, Te Kuiti £2 10s Piriaka £2Bs 6:i. Manga piko £1 13a 6d, refund by choir £5, cemetery fee £l, rent for grazing 7s ; total, £195 19-i Bd. Expenditure : Sti pend £l:'9 verger £ls, clearing cemeteiy £lO 10s, insurance on churoh £2 3s 3d, special offertories £2 0s Bd, lighting £4 lis, new books £1 17a 3d, advertising and printing 17s 6d, balance £3 9s 3d, total £195 19s Bd. Choir fund account— Receipts : Balance £2 15s 6d, proceeds of socials £l3 16b 6d, balance £2 6s. Expenditure : Organist £lO, refund rf loan to church account £5, hall hire £3 2» 6d, advertising 15s 6d ; total, £lB 18s.

The report and balance-sheet aa read were adopted. In bis report upon the Sunrlav School, the superintendent (Mr C. Bowden), paid a tribute to ihe good work done by Mrs Collins, and stated that owiug to the fact that he was unable to attend regularly, he was compelled to resign his position. The balance sheet showed a balance in hand of £7 12s.—The report and balance slieet were adopted, and Mr Bowden's resignation was accepted with regret.