AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 885, 8 January 1873, Page 2

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

The usual quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Auckland was held this morning at St. Andrew's Church Present :—Rev. T. Norrie (Moderator#ro tern.), Rev R. F. McNiccol (clerk) ; Revs. D. Bruce, J. Macky, A. McD. Tait, J. Hill, and D. Hamilton; and Messrs Whitson, Thompson, Rattray, and Sommerville (elders).

The Sederimt was opened with prayer, after which the clerk read the minutes of previous meeting. These were confirmed. Commissions in favour of Messrs Whitson and Thompson were read, authorising them to represent the congregations of St. Andrew's and Otahuhu respectively in the Presbytery as elders for the next 12 months. The Rev. D. Bruce introduced the Rev. Neil McCullum, lately arrived in the colony from Scotland, and his credentials were read. He was cordially received by the Moderator, on behalf of the Presbytery.

The ministers of St. Andrew's, St. James's, Otahuhu, Papakura, Onehunga, North Shore, and Thames gave in their reports of the stipulated collections for the Aged Ministers' Funds and the Home Missions.

Mention was made that some congregations had neglected to make these collections, and it was agreed that those members who had made the omission should be waited upon for an explanation.

A letter from Dr Cruickshank was read. It alluded to the subject of the Matakana school site, and had been written on behalf of the School Committee. The settlement of this question had been referred by the Presbytery to the Matakana church authorities, who now wished the matter settled by the Presbytery, as no agreement could be arrived at by them on the subject.

The subject was discussed, and it was finally decided to write to Dr. Cruickshank that the Matakana church authorities must settle the question, as the members of the Presbytery were ignorant of the merits of the case.

The next subject brought forward was the constitution of the Home Mission committee. After consideration, the Rev J. Macky proposed that the whole of the members of the Presbytery le members of the committee ex officio, and that Messrs Clark, Brock, Stevenson, Peacock, T. Macky, Sibbin, M. Nicol and W. Graham be added to the committee. Mr W. Rattray seconded the motion and it was carried.

The Rev D. Bruce was appointed convener, and the treasurer of the Presbytery to act in the same capacity for the Home Mission. Mr Brock was re-appointed secretary. The Rev. D. Bruce moved that instructions be given to all Presbyterian congregations to pay to the treasurer forthwith the clerks' fees. This was carried.

The report of the Committee of Supply was read. It had reference to the supply of ministers to the out districts of Coromandel and Waikato. The Rev Mr Tait had been appointed to the former, and the R|&S Mr Stewart to the latter district. "n

The Rev Mr McKenzie moved the adop^Slof the report, which was carried.

The Supply Committee was then dissolved.

The Rev. D. Bruce, in alluding to the late meeting of the General Assembly at Christchurch, spoke of the regular attendance and the active part taken by the commissioners appointed by the Presbytery in the business of the Assembly. The meeting of the Assembly had resulted in very agreeable and useful results, and would, he believed, be productive of much good to the whole church.

The Rev. Mr Mackay endorsed these remarks.

A letter from Mr ,T. M. Fraser was read, offering his services as missionary at Mercury Bay for £100 par annum. The Rev Mr Tait considered that it was highly desirable that such a person should be appointed for that district. Discussion, was ensuing when our reporter left, p v