AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 124, 3 June 1885, Page 2

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

A PKO he 'nata session of the Auckland Presbytery took place at St. Andrew's Church at 10 a.m. this morning. Present— The Rev. J. Wacky (Moderator), Rev. 1. Somervillo (Clerk), Revs. D. Runciman, A, Carrick, Munro, Macnicol, S. J. Neill, T. McKenzie Fraser, Boyd, Riddel, McCallum. Norrie, and Bruce, and Mr Batger and Mr Dinwiddie elders. . The Rev. Mr Dunn in Trouble. A communication was obtained from the Pokcno and Pukekoho Church agreeing to tho Rev. T. W. Dunn obtaining leave of absence for six months or more, for the purpose of visiting Great Britain. It was stated that Mr Dunn bad obtained leavo to go homo to visit his mother four months ago, and he had not yet left Now Zealand, having been lecturing in the South on physiognomy. Tho Clerk read a telegram from Mr Paterson, Secretary to tho Church Extension Committee, as follows :—" Sorry no man availablo for Hamilton. Presbytery ought enjoin Dunn return. Absurd lecturing through country, neglocting charge. "—The Rev, Mr Runciman said Mr Dunn had got leave of absence by an appeal to the feelings of the Presbytery, and had, instead of 'going home, been lecturing on physiognomy. This was a course of action that the Presbytery could not overlook. He had deserted his charge, and had committed a breach of ecclesiastical law— fugitation, he thought. Tho Clerk said that it was not fugitation,but misrepresentation.—Tho Rev, Mr Runciman moved that Mr Dunn be called to appear before tho Presbytery on the first Wednesday of July, to give an account of his conduct in not visiting Britain in accordance with the tenor of his application for leavo of absence.—The Roy. Mr Somervillo seconded. — The Roy. Mr Macnicol said that ho considered tho motion of tho Rev. Mr Runciman scarcely wise. They had no evidence that what was stated against Mr Dunn was true, and would it not be better to wait till after the expiry of tho six months ?—Tho Key, Mr Munro said until tho ond of the six months ho did not think they could deal with Mr Dunn. If he did not return at the end of that term, they could ' cite him for breach of duty. He moved an amendment that no action be taken till after the expiry of the leave of absence.—The Rev. Mr McCallum thought that a telegram should be sent to Mr Dunn, warning him that the Presbytery would deal with him summarily if ho did not return at tho end of »ix months. —The Rev. Mr Somerville said he had reason to believe that when Mr Dunn applied for leave to go home to see his aged mother, ho had matured his plans for a lecturing tour round the colony. He had had a number of tickets printed here : " The great lecture by the Rev. T. W. Dunn." Ho said that Mr Dunn had been guilty of misrepresentation, and should be called to the bar of the Presbytery. _ The Rev. Mr Runciman then amended his resolution, so that it read " The Presbytery, having reason to believe that the Rev. T. \V. Dunn has not availed himself of the leave granted by the Presbytery on the Ist of February for six months to visit Scotland, but that he is still in New Zealand, resolve to adjourn till the first Wednesday of July," and that in tho event of the Clerk finding that Mr Dunn is still in New Zealand, he be instructed to cite Mr Dunn to appear at the said meeting on the first Wednesday of July." This motion found universal favour, and the amendments were withdrawn, the resolution boing unanimously adopted. Hamii_to>*. — The Rev, Mr Boyd, of Epsom, was appointed to preach at Hamilton for two Sundays.—The Presbytery approved of the action of the Cleik in recommendingtotho Church Extension Committee tho romoval of Mr Raeburn from Hamilton to Wairoa (llawko's Bay.) Howick. —A committee was appointed to visit Howick and to confer with parties, and to ondoavour to arrive at an amicable settlement of difficulties, and report at noxt mooting. Tacranoa.—llev. Mr Neill reported that tho commis&ion had inducted Mr McT_.onr.an at Tauranga, Hour or Meeting.—lt was agreed to send down to tho Kirk Sessions the question as to whether tho hour of meeting should bo changed from morning to evening, and roport at next meoting of Presbytery. This was all tbe business.