Gippsland Times 31.01.1883  St Paul’s AGM

The annual meeting of St Paul’s Church for the election of a board of guardians was held in the church on Monday evening, the Rev. Canon Watson in the chair.

The meeting having opening with the usual devotions, it was unanimously decided that the board should consist of nine members, the same number as in the previous year.  The members nominated by the congregation were Messrs Scanlon, Pettit and Robinson, and upon being put to the meeting, they were declared duly elected. The trustees elected Messrs Carter, Patterson and Bird; and Canon Watson selected Messrs C. Napper, Treloar and Geohegan.

On the motion of Mr Trood, Messrs Howden and Coverdale were re-elected auditors.

The Chairman said that concluded the business of the meeting; but he wished to say a few words in reference to the secular affairs of the church during the past year. As far as his experience was concerned in connection with the work of the church here, the past year had been of the greatest possible comfort.  When they assembled last year some little unpleasantness existed, but since then everything had gone on prosperously, and during the nine years that he had been here, they had never had their finances in such a good condition. In looking over the balance sheet they would see that the offertory collections amounted to £225. In previous years they seemed to increase until it reached £118 and then it fell off, and now it reached the credible amount £225. There were also a larger number of seat rents taken, and if all the seat rents had been paid, they would have a balance of £45; as it was the amount was the same as their liabilities. They all know what it was when the finances were not in a healthy state, and he was therefore very glad that they were in such a healthy state.

Last year they had in contemplation the completion of the nave of the present church, and steps were taken to accomplish that end. Plans were prepared, tenders were called for, and to their great astonishment and regret the lowest tender amounted to nearly £3,000. At first it was thought some mistake had been made, and he went to Melbourne to see Mr Billing, the architect, but he assured him it was no such thing. The question to be considered then was, did the Board feel themselves justified in proceeding with the nave of the church, without in any way increasing the accommodation of the parish? They carefully considered the matter, and came to the conclusion that they ought not to spend too much money without providing more accommodation, and it was decided to build a larger though cheaper building, and provide more accommodation.  Tenders had been called for, and if Mr Wynne had taken up his tender, the work would now have been going on; but he hoped it would soon be gone on with, either by another tender being accepted, or under supervision, by day labour, as some thought would be the best plan to adopt.  With regard to the acquirement of a house in a centre part of the town for a parsonage, he was sure no one knew how difficult it was to work the parish living at so great a distance from the church as he had been. He had travelled twice and thrice a day, from the Glebe and back again, and week by week and month by month, he had dragged his legs after him feeling cast down and weary. Since he had removed to the new parsonage, which was only a few weeks since, he was able to go about his work, visiting the sick and so on, and in the evening feel tolerably fresh, and in the morning rise again invigorated to go about his work again. He only spoke of that in the interest of the parish and the work the clergyman had to do, and he was sure the congregation would look back and say that nothing had been done to maintain the work being done effectually than the procuring of that parsonage. 

He desired to say a few words to those who had been his helpers in the past year. There were 250 children in the Sunday School, and he thanked those who had co-operated with him as teachers, and hoped that others, especially the men folk, would come forward and help them in that work. The reverend gentleman rendered his hearty thanks to the members of the choir for their services during the year, expressing the hope that some person would come forward to conduct the choir, and thus render their services more efficient. He also returned his thanks to the Board of Guardians, who had worked well and under great difficulty during the past year. In the matter of church building there had been differences of opinion, and there was still, but having been finally settled the congregation should stand together, and uphold the hands of those who had the work to carry out. He concluded by announcing that the Bishop of Melbourne was expected to be in Sale next week, and he would be in Sale again on the 15^th February, when it was intended, if possible, to have some kind of entertainment, a conversazione, or something of that sort, in aid of the funds of the church.

Mr Staveley complained of the absence of information in the report as to the ways and means for erecting the new Church, and put a number of questions in reference thereto which the Chairman said had been answered at the two previous meetings of the congregation, except one in reference to the purchase of land from Mr Andersen, and that had not been included in the report, because the purchase was effected after the balance sheet closed. The amount paid for that land, however, was £105. The architect's estimate of the cost of the building was £3,000 to £3,100, to provide 468 sittings for adults. Mr Smith said the matter of building the Church was not now before that meeting, it had been settled already, and all the information asked for had been furnished over and over again. Mr Staveley expressed himself dissatisfied, and repeated his questions.

The Chairman said, Mr Staveley at the last meeting put the same questions three times, but he again furnished him with the information, which was precisely the same as given at previous meetings, and which has already been published.

After some further remarks from Mr Staveley and Mr Farran, the meeting closed.