Waiapu Church Gazette. JULY, 1913. Ourselves.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 7A

Waiapu Church Gazette. JULY, 1913. Ourselves.

With the issue of the present number of the Waiapu Diocesan v Gazette," we commence the fourth year of our existence, and the occasion seems to be opportune for indulging m retrospect and prospect. That a Diocesan paper was needed, and badly needed, m order to act as a unifying agent m this large and scattered Diocese, goes without saying, but there were at once serious questions to face about finance, editorship, and the possibility of obtaining advertisements. FINANCE. For various reasons, it seemed t0 be impossible at the time to ask either the Diocese or the Parishes Sto be saddled with the financial responsibility of the paper, although it would be quite legitimate for the Diocese to do so, or a t any rate to make an annual grant from the Home Mission Fund towards its support. The Bishop, however, feeling the absolute need for the paper, decided to take the financial responsibility upon his own shoulders, and to launch the enterprise m faith and hope. It was decided as the next step to endeavour to obtain a guarantee fund to the amount of about £100, and this was successfully done by the willing co-operation of a few interested Churchmen. It was hoped at the time that there would be no need to call upon the^guarantors for a ny assistance, and the hope has been realised, and we have every confidence m believing that the paper will continue to be seH-supporting. The next step was to decide upon the price of the paper, and after carefully facing our responsibilities, we came to the conclusion that we could not publish it at one penny per copy, and so fixed the price at twopence. We ventured at the same time to appeal to our friends and wellwishers for a donation or annual subscription towards the upkeep of the paper, m order to meet the loss upon possible bad debts, management expenses, free complimentary copies, and exchanges, and again our friends have not failed us. But, m spite of all our precautions, we quite realised that the

success of the 'paper depended upon the loyal co-operation of the' Diocesan clergy, and m most cases this also has been forthcoming, and at the present time we have a monthly circulation of about 2000, and have managed to pay our way. EDITORSHIP. The question of editorship was necessarily a crucial point, and it was absolutely necessary to find someone with the time as well as the ability for the position. The late Vicar of Havelock North, the Rev. A. Gardiner, with the assistance of his colleague, Mr. Robjohns, kindly undertook the post, and ably and conscientiously filled it until he was compelled to lay down his work. We shall always remember his sympathetic interest m and work for the paper with gratitude. The Bishop then asked the Venerable Archdeacon Ruddock to fill the vacant editorial chair, and the Archdeacon still holds the dual office of editor and manager. ADVERTISEMENTS. The printers of the paper offered us liberal terms for the right of securing advertisements, when the paper was first started, but have found subsequently that they could not continue to make the same offer owing to the difficulty of securing, advertisements for the paper, which, of course, circulates far beyond the boundaries of Hawke's Bay, and has not a sufficiently large circulation m Napier to be useful as a medium for local advertisers. So small would be the amount now obtainable from local advertisements that we have decided to do away with them, altogether, and to ask our friends to make good the loss caused thereby by subscriptions. PROSPECT 1 . We start on our fourth year with thankfulness and hopefulness. We are conscious that the paper might well be enlarged and improved if the finances' would permit, but we believe that the " Gazette " has more than justified its existence by helping to draw together the scattered portions of the Diocese, by recording Diocesan news of general interest, by enabling the Parishes to know something, of what 'their neighbours and distant friends are doing, by circulating missionary information, and by publishing papers on social subjects, sermons,

etc., which are keenly appreciated, m many parts of the Diocese. ' J

We would again urge the clergy to make full use of the " Gazette " by the regular supply of " Parish. Notes," by endeavouring to obtain, new subscribers, and by forwarding, regularly the subscriptions due. It might be possible m somt cases, where the " Gazette " is distributed by the Parish authorities, to secure a keen layman or laywoman who. would undertake thisvery necessary part of Parochial work. We would again appeal to our friends who can offord to give a. subscription to the paper to regard the " Gazette " as a necessary part of the Diocesan organisation, and to remove any anxiety which we may have 0,11 account of the lossof advertisements by contributing an annual subscription, and so becoming a shareholder m an undertaking which provides an excellent dividend m the satisfaction of helping a worthy cause and sharing m the burdens of others.