AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 290, 5 December 1894, Page 2

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

The usual bi-monthly meebing of the Auckland Presbytery was held lasb evening' when there were present:—The Revs. T. F. Robertson (Moderator), A. Carrick, W. Norrie, G. B. Monro, D. J. Steele, D. J. AlcCallum, W. F. Findlay, R. Ferguson, J. Headrick, J. Hill, R. Barr, R. F. Macnicol, and R. Sommerville (clerk), together with a number of elders. CHURCH EXTENSION. Rev. Mr Ferguson reported that the Committee re church extension had meb and discussed the mabber, bub nobhing definite was decided upon. The scheme he proposed was to cover the outlying districts. One idea was to get a man at £200 per annum with £150 extra for expenses. Hia scheme was for the ministers to in turn take up the work for two years, but the difficulty was bo provide Bupplies for bhe pulpits of the ministers when absent from their churches. Consequently nothing definite was done and the Committee declined to come to any finding upon his suggestion, and the whole question was left to bhe Presbytery. Rev. J. Hill said it was evident thab the Committee did nob do the work ib was appointed for. He suggested that the matter should be remitted back to the Committee or else wait tor the report of the General Church Extension Committee of the General Assembly. He thought perhaps ib would be aa well to wait until the Assembly had met. Ho was sure that tbe itinerating minister could raise £70 of bis salary, and surely they could get the rest of the money, as £30 had been offered by tho General Church Extension Committee.

Mr Bell suegested that Mr Ferguson's scheme should be laid before the Presbytery and dealt with at the present meeting. Rev. Sommerville said it was desirable that they should sbimulabe greaber liberality towards church extension, bub Mr Ferguson's scheme might run parallel with tbat idea.

On the mobion of Rev. Monro, seconded by Rev. Hill, it waa resolved to remit the whole question of church extension back to tho Committee to be considered and reported on. The following names were added to the Committee :—Rev. R. Sommerville, Rev. D. J. Steele, Mr White, and Elder McKinley. MANGERE. Rev. Monro reported tbab the church a b Mangere had agreed to invite the Rev. Mr Headrick to take tbe charge. Thab gentleman had accepted tbe invitation and commenced his duties. Key. Air Carrick said Air Headrick was a very old friend of hia, and he was glad he had accepted the charge of Mangere. The Moderator said the difficulty of the Presbytery was bo geb ministers for the vacanb charges ab Avondale, Northcote, and the Thames. ELLERSLIE. Rev. Ferguson reported that the Rev. Mr Brown had decided to retire completely from the care of Ellerslie. Ib was a long ride for Mr Brown, and the romunerabion waa miserable, something like £1 per month. Mr Fergußon said he also would resign the position of Aloderator of Ellerslie. It was decided to accept the resignation of Air Brown. Rev. Ferguson moved thab a letter of thanks be sent to Air Brown. This was agreed to, and Mr Ferguson was aßked to remain as Aloderator of Ellerslie until tho next meeting of the Presbytery. waipu. A petition was read from tbe people at Waipu, aaking that services should be held both in English and Gaelic, as there were many who could not understand the former language. The document bore 201 signatures. Messrs McDonald and McLean attended to speak in support of the petition.

Mr McLean said he had been sent perhaps because those who were older and more eloquent would speak in a language that the Presbytery could nob understand. He said bhat since bhe appointment of a minister who could not speak Gaelic, many had been unable to understand bhe language in which the sermons were delivered. He therefore asked that a minister should bo appointed who could speak in both languages, and thus suib both parties, He wished it to be clearly understood thab he had nothing bo say personally against tbe presenb ministor, bub they wanted one who could speak to the people in their mother tongue. At preeenb two-thirds of bhe people did nob abtend church.

Mr McDonald alee spoke in support of the petition. Roy. Sommerville said these gentlemen aßked for a thing which the Presbytery had no power to do—that was to remove Mr Jones. That gentleman had many atI bached followers at Waipu, and statistics showed tbab his following musb be large judging by the amount of money raised. At the same time he sympathised with those who wished to have a Gaelic preacher, still it would be a gross injustice to remove Mr Jones when he was doing good work and had a large following. The only thing would be to appoint a commission to go to Waipu and report upon matters. If any arrangement could be made, be was sure the Presbytery would be willing to do it. He moved that the following commission be appointed : The Moderator, Rev. Roberbson, Rev. Ferguson, Rev. Steele and Elder Bell, to vieib Waipu. Rev. Macnicol eaid bbab ib would be well to geb a student who could speak Gaelic to work in conjuncbion wibh Mr Jones, and thus take in a wider field. The motion by the clerk waa adopted.

SABBATH-SCHOOLS EXAMINATION.

The Rev. James Hill read the following report of the committee of the Sabbathschools examination :—St. James's Sabbathschool — Essayß .: Violet McGill, Janeb Crawford, Lilias Jane McGibbon, Katie Crawford, Margaret Murray, T. J. Crawford, W. G. Teißeira, Nellie Gill, MaggieMcKee, Margaret Urquhart, John A. Brown. Scripturo knowledge : Alexander Gow, Charles Scobb, May Scott, Irene Howden, Janeb Crawford, Mary Curtain, Maggie Urquhart, Euphemia Cosgrave, W. G. Teiseira, S. T. McGibbon, Nellie Gill, Margaret Murray, Maggie McKee, J. A. Brown, Violeb McGill, May Blakey, Jesßie Gill, T. J. Crawford, Kabie Crawford. Catechism :C. Scotb, A. Gow, A. Brown, Jeasie Gill, Mary Curtain, Maggie Urquharb, Violet McGill, May Blakey, Nellie Gill, Katie Crawford, Janeb Crawford, Maggie McKee, Margaret Murray, T. J. Crawford, W. G. Teixeira, J. Brown, and Jane McGibbon. Onehunga Sabbath-Bchool—Catechism : Flora James, Mabel Maitland, Willamina Fletcher, Dorothy Agnes Pullen. Scripture knowledge : Muriel Barr, Willamina Fletcher. Remuera Sabbath - school — Catechism : Grace Grant, Clara Grant. Scripture knowledge: Grace Grant, Jessie Carr, Blanch Ambury, Mabel Galloway. Devonport Sabbath- school —Catechism : Thomas Young, Maria Smith, Margaret Cardno, Margaret Smith, Gertrude Graham, Clara Toomer. Scripture knowledge: Thomas Young, Annie .Niccol, Margareb Smibh, Maria Smibh, Clara Toomer, Gertrude Graham, Margareb Cardno, Ebhel Inglis. Sb. Sbephen'e Sabbabh-school:— Catechism :A. F. Field. Scripbure knowledge: Nellie Sbewarb, A. F. Field, Victor Robertson. St. David's Sabbabh-school: — Catechism: Alex. Aiton, Hannah Hutchison, Annie S. McNab, Edith Jowibt, Neil McDougall, Euphemia Coßgrave, Jane Rugg, Samuel Fullerton, Lily Chandler, Maria Riggins, J. J. Brase, Maggie Cosgrave, John McDougall. Scripbure knowledge: Maggie Cosgrave, Samuel Fullerton, Euphemia Cosgrave, Neill: Mc-

Dougall, Annie S. McNab, Hannah Hutchison, Lily Chandler, James Rugg, Alex. Aiton, Edith Jowitt, Maria Riggins. 'Otara ' Sabbath-school: — Catechism and Scripture knowledge : Ethelwyn Carruth, Annie AlonroKerr, May Runciman, Emma E. A. Wallace, Flora E. Kerr, Ada E. Carruth, Alary Hamilton. Essays : Ada E. Carruth, Annie M. Kerr, Mary Hamilton, Emma E. A. Wallace, May Runciman. On the motion of the Rev. R. Sommerville the report waa received and a vote of thanks accorded the Committee.