Clutha Presbytery.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 45, 10 June 1903, Page 5

Clutha Presbytery.

The Clutha Presbytery met in the Balclutha Presbyterian Church on Wednesday of this week, when there were present — the Rev. R. S. Allen (Moderator pro tern.), and Messrs Currie, Dalrympte, Fraser, Miller, Macallister, Ramsay, Budd, Chisholm, and Orr (ministers), and Messrs Blaikie, M'Hattie, McCaw, Edwards, Taylor, and Dallas (eders). Commissions from the Kirk Session of Fuerua and Stirling appointing, Messrs J. : Lamond and S. Lewis respectively as their representatives to the Presbytery and Synod tor the current year were received and sustained. . - , Apologies for inability to attend were 'received from Messrs Reid, 1 Will, Howes, Blair, Russell, and Young. Reference was made to the very serious illness of Mrs Blair, of Clinton, and in connecwith this, and at the request of the Court, Mr Dalrymple led the Presbytery in prayer, commending the sufferer to the care of the Heavenly Father. It was also agreed to extend to Mr and Mrs Blair the Presbytery's very deep sympathy with them in the trying time through which they were passing. By way of relief to Mr Blair, several of the ministers also expressed their willingness to supply the Popotunoa pulpit for a sime, and the clerk was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. It was also agreed, on the motion of Mr Fraser, seconded by Mr Budd, to express the Presbytery's sympathy with the Rev. Mr Will, of Lawrence, in his illness, and its earnest hope that he may soon be restored to complete j heatlh. Mr rViser moved, and Mr Miller seconded, and it was agreed to, that the Presbytery congratulates the Rev. James Somerville, M.A, formerly a member of the Presbytery, on his settlement in Selkirk, wishes him God's blessim T in his work, and expresses regret that it is not likely to see him back in New Zealand so soon as it had hoped. It was agreed to confer consideration of the Book of Order and Formulae till next Presby : tery. It was also agreed that iwo committees, consisting respectively of Messrs Miller, Fraser, and Budd (Mr Miller, convener), and Messrs Currie, Ramsay, and Allan (Mr Currie, convener), be appointed to examine the draft copy and report to next Pn sbytery. Mr M'Caw reported on behalf of the Committee of Presbytery appointed to visit Tuapeka West re dividing the district into two mission charges, the first to censist of Rae's Junction, Beaumont akd Evans Flat, with Beaumont as centre, and the centre of Tuapeka West, Tuapeka Mouth, Rongahere, and Tuapeka Flat, with Tuapeka West as centre. Mr M'Caw narrated the steps taken, and read the resolutions from the dffferent centres, and from the Dunstan Presbytery and the Roxburgh j c-ngregation, agreeing to the changes proposed, when it was moved by Mr Miller, and seconded by Mr Fraser, and agreed to, that the Presbytery takes the necessary steps to disjoin Rae's Junction from the Dunstan Presbytery and attach it to the Clutha Presbytery. It was also moved by Mr M'Caw, and seconded by Mr Fraser, and agreed to, that the Presbytery erects a new Mission Station to include Rae's Junction, Beaumont and Evans Flat, wilh Beaumont as centre. A statement having been made re the financial loss resulting to Mr M'Caw from the proposed alteration of boundaries, Mr Fraser moved, and Mr Orr seconded, and was agreed to, that before the aforesaid decision takes effect an arrangement be made with the Church Extension Committee for financial assistance to Tuapeka West, so that the stipend of the missionary be not reduced from its present amount. On the motion of Mr M'Caw, seconded by Mr Fraser, it was further agreed to that a committee, consisting of the Revs. Will and Reid, Messrs Hattie and M'Caw, be appointed to work in conjunction with the Church Extension Committee to arrange supply for, and to further the interests of, the new station generally. Mr M'Caw submitted two sermons to the Presbytery as directed by the Examining Committee of the Assembly's Home Mission Scheme of Examinations. The sermons were handed over to a committee consisting of Messrs Fraser and Miller to examine and report at next Presbytery. Mr Chisholm reported re Ratanui mission charge that as yet no permanent missionary bad as yet been appointed, that supply at present was given by the students, who, however, had not been able to visit Chaslands. Regret was expressed at this condition of matters, and it was decided to write to the Church E> tension Committee again, urging it to do its best to secure a missionary for the district. Mr Dalrymple reported re Ahuriri. It was agreed that Messrs Chisholm and Dalrymple visit the district, and report to next meeting of Presbytery. Mr Chisholm reported that the old records of Session and Deacon's Court and the baptis- j mal roll of Owaka Parish had apparently disappeared. — It was agreed that the clerk write to the Owaka Kirk Session for full information on the point, and report to next Presbytery. Mr Ramsay gave notice of the following motion for next Presbytery : — " Whereas the Presbytery has knowledge that in some sessions within the bounds there is no session clerk, and that it is left to the minister to act in this capacity, the Presbytery deems this an undesirable condition, and strongly recommends sessions to appoint one as clerk other than the minister of the charge." Mr Hewitson's circular letters re contributions from members of the church to unattached missions were, in accordance with the decision of last Presbytery, further considered, when, on the motion of Mr Currie, seconded by Mr Miller, it was agreed, to express sympathy with Mr Hewitson's object in writing to the different Presbyteries of the church, and to request the ministers within the bounds of the Presbytery to bring before their congregations the claims of the missions to which the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand was committed so as to secure for these a more loyal support. In connection with the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, the question of reducing the annual payment of ministers from a double charge to a single charge in the case of ministers removing from one branch of the church to another was considered, when Mr Ramsay moved, and Mr Taylor seconded, that no steps be taken in the matter, but that the committees appointed for the purpose complete the scheme for amalgamation of the funds as soon as possible. Mr Currie moved, as an amendment, and Mr Chisholm seconded, that the Presbytery agrees to the reduction suggested. The mo jibn was carried by one vote.' It was agreed to adjourn to meet at Milton on th e second Wednesday of September at 10 o'clock