CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 53, 14 February 1913, Page 6

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

The Presbytery of Clutha met at Milton on Wednesday, the 12th inst., when there were present tho Rev. Mr Mortou (Moderator), and Revs. W. Currie, Miller, Brown, W. T. Currie, Watson, Tylee and Cuttle, and Messrs Clarke, Rose, Edie, Fleming, Lammond, Milne, Bruce and Brabant (elders). Messrs Ayson and Smaill were associated with, the Presbytery. Apologies'for absence" were received from the Revs. Williams, Ponder and Durward aud Mr James Clark. Mr Williams was elected Moderator for the ensuing six months. The question of dividing the Ratanui Home Mission district was considered at some length. Messrs Tylee and Morton reported that they had visited tho district and found the field too extensive for one man to work. Thereafter Mr Miller moved that the Presbytery recommend the division of the charge; into two, apply to the Home Mission Committee for a grant in aid of eachdivision, that the Presbytery become responsible for £lO towards the outlying half, and that Mr Tylee be asked to give , a fortnight to a house to house visitation of this part of the district. Seconded by Mr Clark and agreed to.

Mr Miller moved that the Rev. R. Fainiiaid, of South Dunedin, be nominated as Synod Moderator for next year. Seconded by Rev. S. W. Currie and agreed to. The congregational records of Milburn, Milton, Lovells Flat, Balclutha, Warepa and Clinton were examined and, with a few minor corrections, found correct.

Messrs Ponder aud Durward were appointed to carry out the arrangements of last year for a conference at Synod. The clerk laid on the table a call from Maugere-Otahuhu to the Rev. W. T. Currie, of Kaitangata. Messrs Miller and Mortou presented the case for Mangere. The Rev. Mr Brown reported that he had presided at a congregational meeting at Kaitangata and that the people, while deeply regretting the possibility of losing Mr Currie, resolved to acquiesce in his decision. Mr Win. Smaill, appearing as a commissioner from Kaitangata, spoke of the good [ work Mr Currie had done, and of the lovatty of the office-bearers aud workers

onerally. On being called upon to state his mind with relation to the call Mr Currie referred to certain difficulties he had in deciding, and asked till Friday before coming to a decision. It was'resolved to meet on Friday at Balclutha at 10..'!0 a.m. to dispose of the call. A draft report of Synod regulations was considered and, in the main, agreed to.

' Mr Edie gave notice of an overture to the Assembly to the effect that in aIJ the courts of the Church a ruling elder may be elected Moderator. The relation of the Synod to the Jubilee Fund was considered, when, on the motion of Mr Clarke, seconded by Mr Edie, it was agreed that the Presbyteryagrees with the finding of the late pro-re-nata Synod—that these and other moneys are the property of the Synod. The Presbytery made arrangements for Dr Kirk's itinerary within the bounds as follows: —Clinton, Friday, March 7; Balclutha and Stirling, Sunday, March 9; Kaitangata," Tuesday, March 11; Loyells Flat, Wednesday, March 12.; Waitahuna, Thursday, March 13; Milburn, Friday, March 14; Milton and Lawrence, Sunday, March 16. It was agreed to recommend a conference of office-bearers and members of the P.W.M.U. with Dr Kirk in tho congregations visited.

In connection with the Clyilevalc Home Mission charge Rev. W. S. Currie moved that the Presbytory ask the Synod, through an'interim act or otherwise, to purchase four acres of land for a glebe—the four acres already approved by the Presbytery, viz., section 40, block 1., Pomahaka district, at £l2 10s per acre. Seconded by Mr Milne and agreed to. Messrs Brown, Currie and Clarke were appointed a commission to meet with the office-bearers of Waiwera and Clydevale in connection with Clifton.

Mr Miller read a report from Mr Loan, student in chargo of WaihoJa, and spoke of the good work ho was doing. An application from the committee of management of Waihola for the quinquennial grant for manse repairs was laid oo the table, when it was agreed to

forward the application' to the Church Board of Property for payment,'in accordance with, regulation/ 8. Tho clerk hiid on the table the findings of the Sustentation Fund Committee in re assessments, or minima, for 'the current year. In connection with the present Bible-ip-sehools crusade it was agreed, on the motion of Mr Edie, seconded by MiMiller, to recommend the formation of committees (undenominational) in each centre, and that in country parishes the sessions be asked to interest themselves in the matter. It was agreed to hold a short conferonce at next meeting on the best way of securing the children for the Church, Mr Edie to introduce the matter. It was agreed to adjourn to tho special meeting to be held in Balclutha on Friday, the 14th hist., at 10.30 a.m., for the disposal of "the call to the Rev. W. T. Currie, and for ordinary businoss tit Balclutha on Friday, April 11, at 10.30 a.m.