MAIN TRUNK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK

TAIHAPB ANGLICAN CHURCH AFFAIRS “The year will rank as one of the most notable in the history of our /Parochial District,” said the Rev. E. , J. Rich when moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of parishioners of St. Margaret’s Parish Church, held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a fair attendance and much enthusiasm was displayed, the Rev. Rich occupied the chair. The vicar’s annual report read as follows: “The year that ended on March 31, 1930, was a very happy and successful one in the life of our parochial district. All our activities have been well maintained and good progress has been made in every department of oui church’s work. The attendances at the various services show a slight improve ment over those for the previous year but there is always room for more to come. Personal witness and service are the things that really count. No less than seventy candidates were presented for confirmation. This is a record of which much larger districts than ours would be proud. During the year there have been thirty-seven baptisms, seven marriages and thirteen burials. “The matter of the Parish School building and lease has been settled during the year. We were given permission to surrender the lease and shift the building to our own property. This has been happily accomplished, and the building is now a decided asset to us, and wo shall be saved the rent charge which has had to be paid in the past. The Parish Sunday School now meets in this building under most pleasant conditions. Both our Sunday Schools have had a good yeai. The attendance has been a record and we have a splendid staff of superintendents and teachers giving their time to thiv important work. The Bible Classes continue to flourish and the Boy Scouts are as keen as ever.

“The expenditure for the year has been heavy, owing to the moving, renovating and furnishing of the school but we have had splendid support. The Ladies Guild had a wonderful bazaar, considerably better even than the previous year, the euchre parties were a record success; the proceeds of the garden party were nearly double the best previous effort and most successful socials were held at the country centres. The response to the annual appeal was not quite as good as usual, but many parishioners have been hard hit by the fall in the price of primary products and though some could not give their usual dotation before the end of March, it is the intention of many of them to do so a little later. Altogether we have had a wonderful year of happy service, I am grateful to all church officers, workers and parishioners generally for their continued loyal and whole hearted support, which, with God’s blessing has made possible such real progress.” In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the Rev. Rich said that the year must surely rank as one of the most notable in the history

of the church. Real progress had been made in every department of the church’s work. The attendances at the various services had been well maintained and the number of acts of communion made during the year showed a marked increase and in this connection a record was established on Easter Sunday. The most notable accomplishment had been the solving of the Parish School problem to which the vestry had given a great deal of time and thought. The Borough Council had accepted the surrender of the lease and had given the vestry permission to shift the building on to the church’s own property. This had been done and the building was now being used as a Sunday School and was admirably suited for the purpose. The shifting of the building would mean a tremendous saving in rent alone. The attendances at the Sunday Schools at Taihapo and Utiku had been most satisfactory and there were now 150 names on the roll of the Taihapo Sunday School. Five years ago there had only been 70. The position in regard to the Utiku Sunday School was excellent and reflected great credit on Mrs L. A. Hebberd and Mrs R. J. Gibbs, who were in charge. There was an increase in the number of pupils attending Bible Classes, whilst the troop of Boy Scouts was larger than last year. Certain improvements had been effected to the Parish Hall during the year. The church wardens and vestry had done excellent work. A debt of gratitude was duo to the organist and choir at Taihape and also to the organists in the country districts. He also wished to thank the lay readers, and the ladies who decorated the church for the festivals and provided flowers for the altar. The annual bazaar was held on one day only and the net proceeds were £5O better than last year, whilst there was an increase of £3O from the euchre parties. The annual garden party had been most successful, the proceeds being nearly double the next best effort. He wished to thank the Ladies’ Guild for their splendid efforts during the year. The finances of the church were most satisfactory considering the vestry had to pay out .£2lO in connection with the Parish School. There was no doubt that the church was in a flourishing condition and he hoped that before long the overdraft would be wiped out altogether. He trusted that the ensuing 12 months would be just as successful as the past year had been. In seconding the motion that the report and balance sheet be adopted, Mr R. J. Gibbs remarked that had the Parish School been built on the church’s property in the first place there would have been no overdraft at the present time. The motion was carried and the report and balance sheet were accordingly adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Vicar’s church warden, Mr R. W. Fitzsimons; people’s church warden, Mr E. Loader; vestry, Messrs V. Capill, M. Jarvis, H. Eaton, F. Gledhill, R. J. Gibbs, S. Keats, L. A. Hobberd, A. E. Joblin,’A. L. Mayor and F. C. Vincent.

On the motion of Rev. Rich the retiring church officers and workers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Rev. E. J. Rich and the president (Mrs Henrichs) and members of the Ladies’ Guild were also thanked for their success. Mr Loader moved a vote of

thanks to Mrs A. L. Mayor for decorating the Parish Hall for the annual meeting. The motion was carried by acclamation. At the conclusion of the meeting a bountiful supper was dispensed.

HUNTERVILLE MUNICIPAL THEATRE WILLIAM HAINES IN “THE DUKE STEPS OUT.” William "Haines, gravitating between a college as the scion of aristocracy, and the prize ring, as middleweight champion, plays an exciting and roman tic dual role in “The Duke Steps Out,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s filmization of Lucien Cary’s famous “Saturday Evening Post” novel, which comes to the Municipal Theatre (Hunterville) to-night. In the college he’s a debonair student from a famous family, carefully hiding his other identity as “Duke” Wellington, the fighter. The

result is a blend of college and prize fight drama that offers many a thrill, a deal of clever comedy, and a pretty love story to bind it all together. Joan Crawford is the heroine. Haines, as the fighter going t o College to be near a girl who has taken his fancy, engages in a fight in a cafe to save the girl from ruffians and then, in the end, there is a spectacular fight sequence staged in the famous Hollywood “Legion” Stadium. There, before a great audience, Haines and Jack Roper, famous heavyweight contender, stages one of the fastest screen battles in the I history of the screen. Between times Haines’ trials and tribulations with the professors and the students and other comical details, add merriment to tho thrills.