LEESTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3222, 29 December 1875, Page 3

LEESTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the Presbyterian congregation was held on the 27th instant, the Rev J. W. Cree, pastor of the congregation in the chair.

The statement of accounts was read by the treasurer, and considered highly satisfactory. The following is the report of the committee submitted to the congregation :— "In compliance with the usual custom, your committee beg to submit a report of their diligence and proceedings during the year. The work done has not been great, but there ia great reason to be thankful for the financial prosperity of the congregation. As will be seen from the statement of accounts the total receipts from all sources amountt to £158 2s 7d, and the total expenditure £140 Os 4d, leaving a balance to the credit of the congregation of £18 2s 3d, which, with the balance from last year, leaves a balance in hand of £66 7s 2d. The outstanding debts owing to the congregation amount to £16, which, if paid in, would raise the balance to £82 7s 2d, and the outstanding liabilities of the congregation at the present moment are nil. The receipts of the past year are larger than those of the previous year, and this is due partly to the tea meeting and partly to the circulation of the collection plate in the church on Sabbaths. The expenditure of the past year is also greater than that of last year, and this is due to the repairs which were needed to give more room in the church. There is material prosperity everywhere, unless in the matter of the church site. The committee requested Mr Marshall to submit a draft deed, as authorised by last annual meeting, but received neither deed nor reply. Our minister then brought the matter before the Presbytery, as a laßt resource, and a committee was appointed by the Presbytery to deal with Mr Marshall, in the month of April last. This committee saw Mr Marshall, and afterwards reported to the Presbytery, of which report the following is an abstract: —" The committee on the Leeston church, land, and title deeds report that one of the members of committee has seen Mr David Marshall, and ascertained that he is prepared to execute the several title deeds on payment of the money owing to him, on the sole condition that the lands be placed under trustees for behoof of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, such trustees to be approved by the Presbytery of Christchurch, and the lands to be held in perpetuity unless under approval of Presbytery." The committee have since then endeavored to see Mr Marshall, in order to have this proposal of his carried out, but as yet they have not been able to obtain an interview with him. Thus the matter stands, and your committee would now recommend that, as the Presbytery meets on , the second Thursday of January, and as the Presbytery committee will then submit their report, no steps be taken by the congregation till that date ; and if it should appear from that report that Mr Marshall's proposal would not be carried into effect at once, your committee would recommend that another site be secured, and the church removed as speedily as possible. The thanks of the congregation are due to the Presbytery for their exertions in the matter, and your committee can only hope that their efforts to secure the site on which the church stands may be successful. Your opmmittee, in resigning their trust into the hands of the congregation, would pray the Great Head of the Church not only to continue bnt to increase the prosperity of the congregation, and to bless the labors of their faithful pastor." The report of the committee was received and adopted. On the motion of Mr Scott, it waa resolved—"That no steps be taken in the matter of the church site until the first meeting of the Presbytery." And it was f urtt er resolved—" That the committee may then deal with the case without calling a meeting of the congregation." The following gentlemen were thereafter elected to serve on the committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs Taylor, Scott, Kellaban, Murison, McClure, Gilmour, Abridge, Bruce, and Pauling. Votes of thanks having been accorded to the secretary and treasurer for their diligence during the year, the meeting was brought to a close with praise and the Benediction.