April 29, 1926,
Annual Meeting of Parishioners

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH SERVICES ACKNOWLEDGED.

"If one set out to thank every one for what had been done during the year, the list would be almost interminable (says the annual report of St. Matthew's Parish), but we cannot let this opportunity pass without thanking:

the organist and members of the choir,
Mr. Hyde and his co-workers at St. Matthew's Sunday School,
Mr. Blackman and Mrs Chennells with their helpers at Kuripuni Sunday School;
Miss E. Cresswell for her courageous and unaided management of the Sunday School at Lansdowne;
Miss Tylee and Miss Jessie Perry at the Sunday School at Upper Plain;
Mrs J. Lett and Mrs. J. Thompson at the recently opened Sunday School at Taueru [Tauweru];
the collectors of the Missionary Fellowship, Mesdames Barrer, D'Ewes, Penistone, J. Welch, H. H. Beetham, Hope and Misses Boddington, Booth, G. Brown, K. Morrison and Vallance;
the magazine secretary, Mrs. Morton, and the distributors,
Miss Henderson who is in charge of the Kindergarten at St. Matthew's Sunday School,
the bell-ringing guild;
the secretary of the C.F.M.S.;
the secretaries of the Social Service Guild, Miss Vallance, Miss Boddington and Mrs. Archer Hosking;
the secretary, the scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster, the cub-mistress and assistant cubmistress of the senior and junior scouts,
the Captain and Brown Owl of the Girl Guides and Brownies,
the secretaries of the Ladies' Guild and Girls' Club at Kuripuni and St. Matthew's,
the ladies who look after the altar flowers and decorations,
Mr. Norman Winhall and the band of altar servers,
Mrs. James Welch and Mrs. Hope who keep the altar linen in repair,
the secretary of the tennis club, Miss Spencer,
Mr. Best, Mr. Clarke and Mrs. Beetham for taking the clergy out to country services and lastly our caretaker.

This casual mentioning of names is but a sorry attempt at expressing our gratitude to all who have worked in such a friendly and efficient way."

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 May 1926, Page 2

ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH. ANNUAL MEETING.

At the annual meeting of parishioners of St. Matthew's Church last evening, the vicar (Rev. W. Bullock) presided over an audience of about 60. Apologies were received from Messrs. G. Hyde, H. F. Green and E. H. Morton.

The annual report stated that during the year there were 313 services at St. Matthew's, 83 at Kuripuni and 67 in the country-a total of 453 apart from the daily offices. The acts of Communion for the whole parish were 3790.

"We were sorry to lose the Rev. O. Gibson in July. Mr. Datson has found a happy sphere in the Anglican Communion, and is looking forward to his ordination to the priesthood in July. I am afraid if all goes as arranged, we may not keep him long afterwards, and the parish generally will be as sorry as I shall be to lose him. Mr. T. R. Best and Mr. Dunderdale have continued to give us good service as lay-readers, and I am truly grateful. Recently Mr. Keith Harper has been licensed as a lay-reader. We shall follow his steps to the ministry with great interest and friendliness.

Again the churchwardens and vestry have passed a happy year together, and for this amicable carrying on of the work we owe much to our secretary (Mr. T. T. Denbee) and the treasurer, and auditors as well as to Dr. Archer Hosking and Mr. L. B. Maunsell, the wardens.

During the year, what was really a critical period in the history of the Girls' School has been happily passed. The year 1925 will stand out as the year of crisis, for no one was certain of what might happen. Next year we trust that it will be comparatively easy to build our school block. For this happy record of progress we are indebted to Miss Lazarus, our Principal, Mr. A. C. Major and the members of the Board. Another effort crowned with success is the establishment of the Boys' Home at "Sedgley." More will be heard of the Home when the creation of the local committee has been consummated. Useful work is being carried out by the Tennis Club, the Girl Guides and the Brownies.

"I cannot help referring to the need of a screen at the west end of the church and for some improvement of our present heating system. A good deal can be done to make our church the beautiful structure it was intended to be. What is needed is expert advice and a comprehensive scheme, which I hope will not be long delayed."

The churchwardens report stated that the total collections for the year amounted to £710. The annual subscriptions of £326 were not quite up to last year's figures. The Curate Fund was not in a healthy position, there being a deficiency of £133. Grateful thanks were expressed for the Beetham bequest of £2000. Another £2000 would enable the completion of the church. The adverse balance on the General Fund was £89.

Mr. L. B. Maunsell, in moving the adoption of the churchwardens' report and balance sheet, deplored the lack of financial support given by many parishioners. The annual subscriptions for the past year were very small for about 4000 people.

Mr. H. M. Boddington supported Mr Maunsell's remarks. The response was a disgrace to the Anglican community of Masterton. If all made an annual subscription of 5/- ample funds would be on hand.

Dr. Archer Hosking seconded, and the report and balance sheet was adopted.

The election of officers resulted:- Vicar's warden, Dr. Archer Hosking; parishioners' warden, Mr. L. B. Maunsell; vestrymen, Messrs. T. R. Best, A. J. H. Briden, T. T. Denbee, H. F. Green, E. Hale, G. Hyde, E. H. Morton, W. McArtney, W. Penistone, S. W. Smith; secretary, Mr. T. T. Denbee; treasurer, Mr. H. B. Dyer; hon. auditors, Messrs. G. W. Sellar and H. M. Boddington.

Wairarapa Age, 30 April 1926, Page 5

Minutes of Annual Meeting of Parishioners held in the Parish Hall on Thursday, April 29, 1926, at 7.30 p.m. (Pages 91-92)

Present

The Vicar presiding and about 70 parishioners.

Minutes

The Minutes of the last annual meeting of parishioners held on Thursday, April 30th, 1925, were read and confirmed.

Report and Balance Sheet

The People's Warden, Mr L B Maunsell, after reviewing many of the items contained in the Report and Balance Sheet, moved that the same be adopted. Seconded by Dr Hosking. Carried.

Vicar's address

The Vicar in his address wished once again to extend to the Vestry, Ladies' Guild, Sunday School teachers, Tennis Club, Lay Readers and others his sincere thanks for their cooperation and help during the past year.

Election of officers

Vicar's Warden

The Vicar expressed his gratitude to his warden, Dr Archer Hosking for his loyalty and wise counsel during his term of office and nominated him again as Vicar's Warden for the ensuing year.

People's Warden

Mr Hale moved and Mr Denbee seconded that Mr L B Maunsell be elected People's Warden for the coming year. Carried unanimously.

Vestrymen

The following nominations were received for the position of Vestrymen, Viz, T R Best, A J H Briden, T T Denbee, H F Gunn, E Hale, G Hyde, E H Morton, W McCartney, W Penistone and S W Smith. There being only sufficient nominations to fill the vacancies the Vicar declared the above-mentioned gentlemen to be duly elected.

Hon Auditors

Messrs G W Sellar and V M Boddington, Hon Auditors, were sincerely thanked by the Vicar on behalf of the parish for their services and duly elected to fill the position for another year.

Sedgley Boys' Home Committee

The Vicar reported he had nominated the following to service on the Management Committee of the Sedgley Boys' Home and asked that his action be confirmed by the Vestry.

The committee nominated were as follows:
Mrs H H Beetham, Messrs Williams, Glendonald, S W Smith, Dunderdale and A T Jackson.

It was resolved that the Vicar's action be confirmed.

Church at Rangitumau

The Vicar explained the position of the Church Trust in connection with the Church at Rangitumau and moved that Mr Blatchford be appointed to represent the Parish on that Trust. Seconded by the Rev. Datson and carried.

Synodsmen

The Vicar then vacated the chair in favour of the People's Warden for the purpose of electing two synodsmen. Mr L B Maunsell then called for nominations for the position of Synodsman.

Mr McCartney moved and Mr Boddington seconded that Mr A C Major be nominated for the position. Mr Hale moved and Mr Denbee seconded that Mr S W Smith be nominated. Mr Denbee moved that nominations be closed. Carried.

Mr Maunsell then declared Messrs A C Major and S W Smith duly elected synodsmen for the next ensuing three years.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

Signed W M Bullock, 28 April 1927