Parochial News.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 1, 1 July 1926, Page 7

Parochial News.

T&uranf*.

Although some months have elapsed since notes appeared m the "Gazette," and possibly the rest of the Diocese has consigned us to oblivion, we are still alive and rejoicing m a welcome epidemic of spiritual dissatisfaction. The result of this complaint ( ?) has been that 75 candidates were presented to the Bishop last month for Confirmation, which we humbly think is a record. Secondly, at the annual meeting the Parish Hall was freed from all traditional restrictions with regard to dancing, and we have formed a Hall Committee who will take charge of such festivities, and who hope to work up the social side of church life amongst the young folk. This is a tremendous step m the parish, and we hope for great things. Thirdly, the Duplex Envelope system has actually started and is steadily growing. It is so easy to give this way if only people realised it. Fourthly, St. George's Gate Pa has caught the complaint and are indulging m an orgy of wood staining, enlarging the altar and making a suitable tapestry frontal and hangings. There are other symptoms of the disease (?) visible, and taking all things together we are full of hope and most humbly and truly grateful to God for His many blessings to us, His unworthy servants. Please pray for us sometimes before the altar. Holy Trinity, Gidborne. Owing to wild, stormy weather on our Patronal Festival, congregations were only fair , and the offertories were not so large as we had hoped to have. If those, who haven't given towards the special offertory for the new Sunday School and Church rooms would send their donations to the Vicar or the Vestry we would be most grateful. The need for this new building ifl • most urgent, and any sums from, one shilling upwards will , be most thank- , fully .received. The annual meeting of parishioners was held on June 7th. The Vicar, m his opening remarks, thanked the ipeople for their, gener-, osity; m sending , hiin.tp Rotorua for raedifial treatment, f run' whi^t he had >

derived great benefit. This last year, he said, had been one of steady progress ,m the parish. Especially m tlie suburbs they had been most enthusiastic. He thanked all organisations and helpers for their willing work m the past year, and. expressed the wish that every parishioner would do his or her best to support the church, and stand by one another m the great battle for the Kingdom of God. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the lay-readers, the Ladies' Guild, the Deaconess, Sunday School teachers, organist and choir and others. Mr C. A. de Lautour was again appointed Vicar's warden. We hope he may be spared for many years yet amongst us, his advice at all times is always so valuable and sound, but above all there is the great affection that the parishioners as a whole have towards him. Mr C. E. Armstrong was elected people's warden. The vestry comprise: Dr. Williams and Messrs A. L. Muir, I. B. Mirfield, F. Wrey Nolan, F. K. Tucker, J. A. Renwick, G. K. Pasley, D. J. Sellman, H. Bull and D. 0 'Halloran. A Service of Admission was held on June 2nd m the Parish Church to admit ten members to Holy Trinity Girls ' Club/ when an impressive address on the ideals of the Club was given by the Vicar. During the past year the members bought a piano for use m the temporary Club rooms so as to enable the rooms to be let. This piano will later on be used for concerts and other special functions m the new Parish Hall, the other piano which the members bought ten years ago being used for general Sunday School work, etc. This organisation (the Girls' Club) only vacated the old Schoolroom. owing to the intense coldness of the room at night, that being the only time the Club could meet owing .to the great majority of its members being m business. Whilst this Club cannot help the Church so much financially as the members would wish to, they strive to give i^ersonal service m the spiritual work of the Church. Quite a number of them are Sunday School teachers, while others are m the choir. A special evening was held iately m the Club rooms to do honor to one of its most prominent members, Miss Gypsy Wheeler, when she was presented with a suitable gift from her fellow members. Though Miss Wheeler has been an ardent worker m the Methodist Church here, yet she has always willingly come forward to help whenever an effort for our Church has been made by the Cjlub. Girls from other denominations from 16 years upwards are allowed to join on condition that they keep the rules of the Club (and especially thic rule of Communion) m their own Church. The' comfortable Club; ' rooms are ' f available for tire

either afternoon or evening for socials, small dances or parties, all crockery, etc., provided, at a very moderate rent. All applications may be made to Miss M. Woodward, 'phone 1121. The choir of Holy Trinity Church rendered the sacred cantata "The Epiphany," m a most reverent manner, on a Sunday evening recently. The members of the Gisborne branch of the Fraternity of the Resurrection held their quarterly Corporate Communion on one of the Ember days, Archdeacon H. Williams being the, celebrant. A breakfast was afterwards provided for the members m the Schoolroom. Waipawa. We are pleased to report that . the clioir has again been resuscitated. Miss E. Davy has undertaken the duties of organist ; several ladies have; joined the choir and together with the older members make quite a good showing- (and hearing). Several of the Abbotsford Home children are also helping, so that the choir seats are full when there is a good attendrance. . : The Kindergarten Sunday School was opened on June 13th m the new Schoolroom under the superintendence • of Sister Elsie Smith. Sixteen attended .on the opening day and 20 on the next Sunday. We know of many more little children who are coming. The glowing reports, that ;.the pupils take home are sure to have a good xesult, and our only fear is that Sister Elsie Smith will find them increasing m numbers so rapidly that she will be unable to train sufficient assistants to .' keep pace with them. Miss A. Downer is the pianist, Misses E. Williams and r Grl Collett are the present assistants. A euchre parly followed by a dance was held on Wednesday, 17th inst., to inaugurate a series of winter social evenings. In spite of the electric current failing the evening passed otf very happily and was much apprer ciated by parishioners and friends. A good proportion of the money raised has been used to buy crockery for use at future evenings. The social was organised by Mrs J. Riddles and 3Vlrs Butterfield. A children's tea was given to the Sunday School children on Friday evening, l'9th Just. There w-ere 86 present though many of these were hot pupils of St. Peter's Sunday School. The Sunday School teachers and other ladies Md arranged a bountiful tea to/ which the children did full v justieei The rest of the evening wai spent m games and rdwdy romps; and the children thoroughly enjoyed thenfaelves. Mr'R. Hay' amused them' with 'songs; stories and musical selections; Mr \ Cheers- played' lively airs on'th^.piiiio, and Miss 1 Ho%e' and Miss '' T^inafc*

played some items very tastefully on the mandolin and ukelele. A vestry meeting was held on Friday evening, 22nd, to consider the very serious state of parish finance. It was decided to write letters to parishioners asking their help towards wiping off the very heavy liabilities for arrears of stipend and unpaid accounts. One of the churchwardens suggested that the expense of the car m baekblock visiting would be saved if the vicar would do it on a push bicycle!! Confirmation classes are being held m Waipawa every Tuesday evening and a fair number of candidates have been enrolled. Several others are being prepared m the country districts. It is not yet too late for intending candidates to hand m their names. The Girls' Club is working for a sale of work to be held at the end of July. Part of the proceeds are to be allotted towards the cost of apparatus for the Kindergarten and part for Missions. The Vicar has so far provided the apparatus for the Kindergarten but is unable to do more. More Kindergarten chairs are urgently required, and contributions will most gladly be received. Each chair costs 6s 6d, or about 7s landed m "Waipawa. Who will give a chair — or two chairs? The chairs are, of course, only one item m the furniture and apparatus needed. We regret that Mrs Downer (senr.) is still very ill m hospital. A parish tea meeting is being held en St. Peter's Day as a reunion of parishioners. We are glad to welcome to the parish Dr. Anderson and family. Dr. Anderson was for some twenty years a medical missionary m Palestine. He takes over Dr. Maddison's practice on July Ist. Waipnkurau. Ninety parishioners were present at the annual meeting on May 26th. Archdeacon Simkin very kindly came up and helped the meeting with his presence and advice. The balancesheet showed a very satisfactory state of affairs. The old Diocesan loans of £180 had been paid off during the year, which ended with a- small credit balance j £98 had been given to Missions and other outside objects. The Vicar's report showed that advance had been made m other ways. The previous year the number of Communions made was 1389; last year there were 2486, which is an average of 48 a week. The Sunday School, with 120 on the roll, had done a good year's work. It was decided to defer the decision -of the site for the new Church. The Vicar's stipend has been raised to £400 a year from April Ist. The missionary quota for 15

months ended June 30th of £100 has been met, and exceeded by £10. The offertory for Melanesia on Whitsunday amounted to £29, easily a record here. The new Church Building Fun<" ny reaches £1603. Nurse Carter 's and Mrs Murdoch's addresses to the Mothers ' Union on the last two months were much appreciated. PoronffthM. The dance at Herbertville was a great success. The Church funds benefit to the extent of. £65. A donation of £5. was sent after the, proceeds had been sent m, thus making the total £65. It was a. magnificent effort on the part of the people of Herbertville and Wimbledon and we are extremely grateful to them, and to Mrs Herrick for organising it. The Vicarage of Porangahau has been given a new lease of life m that it has received two coats of. paint; it certainly needed it. May it be. a long time ere it needs another, as the cost is great, at least £85. It is gratifying to know that the Vicarage itself, or rather the timber, is still m an excellent condition. It was built m 1893 on the site, of a former vicarage, which was unfortunately burnt down. The collection for the Melanesian Mission amounted to £12, and quite a number have offered to take a missionary box. We hope to raise our quota of £75 next year. Pray about it, and we shall do it. Wood Till*. Woodville's connection with the parochial district has now been severed — it has been a very happy time for the Vicar m what he has been able to do for Christ and His Church there— sad because he was able to do so very little. There is a fine band of workers there m Mr Bell and Mr Phillips, the churchwardens and very fine lay-readers, Mr Phillips doing also noble work at the Sunday School and as Church organist. At Kiritaki Mrs Fairbrother, ably assisted by Miss Charmly, has carried on the Sunday School work for some years with very little help from the Vicar. One cannot leave Miss Bell out — she is invaluable as assistant organist at Te Rehunga and always opened up and played the organ at any service held at Wairouhi, some miles from where she lives. This district of Te Rehunga, etc., is rich m helpers, including several not mentioned, with Mr Bibly as secretarytreasurer and, Mrs Geisen organiser of the Ladies' Guild. They deserve the best of vicars and we trust the Bishop has found him m the' person of the Rev. W. Lea, who is both, young and full of zeal for the Master's work. May God grant His blessing. Woodville will now face its greater

financial responsibilities and the Vicar was glad to have the same wardens and vestrymea elected at the annual meeting. The debits of theparish are growing less, the Ladies' Guild being very valuable and generous. They have just shouldered a debt of £34 extra owing by the vestry to the new Vicarage Building Fund. It pleases the Vicar learn that over £40 had been given to Missions, although it is not near the quota asked. We may reach even that m a year or two. . Kumeroa is keen about building a church. A social committee has been formed, at the Kumeroa centre and later on we hope the vestry will allow a building committee to handle the question and raise funds to add to what the social committee may makethis .winter. . The response to. Confirmation appeals is small but there is promise of quite a large number both of adults and young people for next year. After. some. months' services being held m the house of Mr J. Nelson, Papatawa, we now use the schoolhouseby kind permission of the School Committee. It promises to take quite a large congregation. Our lay-readers, Mr Hustwick, are now at work when the Vicar has tobe at Papatawa or Kumeroa for Holy Communion services. It is a great joy to have two such men to take up this work and not to call on Mr Hamilton who willingly came all the way . from Pahiatua whenever asked and the morning congregations must have disappointed him very often. I hope the morning 1 services, all of them, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. every Sunday will be better attended. The Sunday School is m good form. We want more teachers and are glad that Mr Vervel and Miss Neeley have come along. Two more would be splendid. Waipiro Bay. The annual meeting of parishionerswas held m the Masonic Hall, Tokomaru Bay, about the middle of May, a fair muster of parishioners being present. The Vicar, m his report, dealt with all the parish activities for the year,, all of which he was pleased to say were m a fairly flourishing condition. Mr Day, the hon. treasurer, read the balance-sheet, which showed a total income from all sources, of £824 13s Id and a total expenditure of £864 lls 9d, leaving a debit balance of £39 18s Bd. . There was considerable interest shown m these figures as it was the first reckoning 1 since the division of the district a year ago,, when we lost about half of our regular contributors. One of the largest items of expense, now that, we have a motor ear, is the travelling ex-

penses of -the Vicar^ iwhicti, ainciunted to £64 18s lOd. The election of officers resulted as follows:— Vicar's Warden, Mr A. B. Williams; people's warden, Mr Wm. Oates, senr.; vestry, Messrs D. B. Day (lion, sec. and treasurer), C. E. Nurse, Frank Thompson, Denys Williams and W. L. King; auditor, Mr F. V. Carpenter. After the meeting . refreshments were providtd by the ladies, during which musical items were given by Mesdames Pigott and Todd and Messrs Bennett-Taylor and King. The Ladies Guild at Waipiro are providing some new prayer and hymn books, also red and green burses and veils. It is hoped that the main service at this 1 beautiful church will now be still more dignified more especially as the Vicar is now wearing the correct linen vestments made for him a few. years ago by Deaconess Esther Brand and previously m use at St. Andrew's, Tokomaru Bay. The Mothers' Union is now very active with an increasing membership. It is intended to observe, the Jubilee Festival on June 23rd. • / The collection on Whitsunday for the Melanesian Mission amounted to a little over £10, more than last year but not so much as we hoped for. Now that the district is divided we fear we shall not be able to reach the large quota assigned to us, but no effort, will be spared. After' the annual meeting a vestry meeting was held and all the accounts passed for payment, including the usual £12 10s for the "Diocesan Gazette..'? Parishioners who receive the "Gazette" and appreciate it, would greatly help parish finance if they would hand 3s 6d to the Vicar. ': Puketapu. At the annual meeting held m. the Vicarage on. June 4th the following officers were appointed for the current yearjp-Vicar's warden, Mr J. H. Absolom /-people's warden, Mr G. R. Beamish; vestry, Mrs Kinross White, Mr H. F. Beamish, Mr G .W. Moore, General Sir Andrew Russell, Mr A. V. S. Reed. It was decided to hold a, Garden Fete at the Vicarage early m December m aid of the General Fund. On behalf of the Vestry Mrs Lowry asked Archdeacon Simkin to accept a small presentation. They were very grateful for the great assistance he had been to the parish during the past few years, and they all wished him every happiness m the future.