Waipawa.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 4, 1 October 1926, Page 9

Waipawa.

The long delayed annual meeting was held on September Ist. There was a large attendance. Church officers were elected as follows: — People's churchwarden, Mr H. C. Chambers; vestry, Mrs W. H. Rathbone, Mrs Macgregor, Mr L. Pratley, Mr L. Grenside. The Vicar, m his report, spoke of the excellent help he had received from Mr H. C. Chambers as lay-reader and as people's warden, and from the various church workers, Sunday School teaehers> organists and choir members. The kindergarten Sunday School, since its opening under the charge of Sister Elsie Smith, had rapidly increased m numbers. There are now about 30 children m attendance. More chairs and apparatus are required. The Vicar said he had now nearly completed nine years of ministry m the parish and was prepared to give place to someone else as soon as a suitable opportunity arrived. The parish is deeply indebted to the Bathbone Trustees for.the gift of £2093 10s towards the building fund of a new church. This amount has been, given to the Diocesan Trustees to be held by them until required. St. Peter's Church is as yet m a good state, of preservation, though the roof will very soon require a new covering. The shingles, which have

been on'for; fifty years, will-not last much longer; Had it not been for generous gifts from ' the Rathbone Trustees the parish would be compelled to raise immediately large sums for repairs and. painting to ..the .Church and Sunday School, but a liberal grant from the Trust three years ago provided for these. The Vicftraige, .however, urgently needs painting- and repairs and we .must be prepared to face a fairly large outlay m the near future. . : Euchre parties conducted fortnightly by various -ladies m turn have helped. finances during the past three months, but subscriptions from parishioners are slow m coming" m. Church collections haye increased during the past nine years and are nowi. more than double what they were, but expenses have also increased and annual subscriptions have not. risen m proportion. The Bishop paid his annual .visit on September 13th and confirmed 32 candidates, nine of whom were adults. We have to record the passing ,into Paradise of one of our oldest, communicants, a most loyal cliurchwoman, Mrs Downer, senr. Her last years have been clouded by sickness and blindness but to the end she made her communions as regularly as possible, despite her infirmities, and set a noble example of single-hearted devotion to. her Lord. May the loving Master grant her a place and a crown m His Kingdom. Abbotsford Home is being quickly filled. We are grateful to friends of all denominations for gifts m kind and much kindly interest. Miss V. Opie's afternoon lecture on hospital work at Ranag-hat, near Calcutta, was well attended and greatly appreciated. We- hope it will stimulate interest m Mission work generally. . A new list of services is being circulated with this "Gazette." Owing to the withdrawal of the Presbyterians, Methodists and Salvation Army from Tikokino, and the cessation of the Presbyterian services m the Onga Onga district a rearrangement of our services has been, made possible. The Vicar hopes 1 that the changes, at Taniumu and Tikokino will be found an improvement. Unfortunately one morning service has had to be dropped out from Onga and given to Argyll. Service will be held every month m future at Springhill Schoolroom.