SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7233, 8 June 1887, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, June 7. The protracted squabble which has been going on between the Avondale Presbyterians and their minister, and latterly between the minister and the Presbytery, is drawing to a close. At a meeting of the Presbytery this morning the Moderator asked the Rev. A. M'Kenzie if he were now prepared to give his decision in reference to the wish that he should resign. The Rev. Mr M'Kenzie questioned the authority of the Presbytery to make such a demand of him. The Commissioners who had come before the Presbytery at its last meeting brought no credentials with them. The Rev. G. Monro rose to a point of order. The decision of the Presbytery had been arrived at at its ordinary meeting. The Rev. Mr M'Kenzie was present on that occasion, and entered no objection to the method pursued. The Rev. Mr M'Kenzie stigmatised the whole proceedings of the Presbytery as irregular. The trouble had been formulated by a few persons. Two members of the congreg.ation had stirred up the strife. —(Mr Morrison, a gentleman from Avondale: “It is a falsehood.”) The Rev. Mr Runciman called for the withdrawal of the expression, and in compliance with the Moderator’s demand Mr Morrison withdrew the remark. Mr M'Kenzie proceeded to say that he went to Avondale to find his charge a Wreck, and he placed it in a proper state. The manse was a wreck, and he repaired it. The treasury was empty, and he filled it. The flock was dispersed, and he gathered it together. The charge had boon successful until the Presbytery interfered, and if that interference were withdrawn the Church would go on progressing by leaps and bounds. If the malcontents had approached him as a minister should bo .approached, ho would most likely have listened to them. After some conversation Mr M'Kenzie asked how they could take the hreeks off a Highbinder, and said it would require a considerable amount of skill to demand money from the people of Avondale for the purposes mentioned. If Ids claim were sustained, he was prepared for the loss entailed upon him by resigning the Avondale charge. Mr Runciman replied that they had not yot advanced to such a stage as would enable them to answer this question. No doubt the arrears of stipend would have to be paid ; but he was prepared to meet the answer of the Presbytery. In the meantime the suggestion of the Committee to investigate the books of the Avondale church, in order to see whether the. law of the Church that a minister’s salary should be a first charge had been adhered to, would be acted on. The Moderator asked if Mr M'Kenzie would now resign. Mr M'Kenzie wished to know if all his claims would be met, and if he would bo granted a certifinnte. Mr Runciman did not know if the Presbytery could do anything more. Scotchmen had the reputation of being keen for the “siller,” but there should be some limit to this. Mr M'Kenzie wished to stipulate for an assurance that his arrears of stipend would bo paid, that he would be granted a certificate at Christchurch, and that the Extension Committee should recommend him for further employment. The Rev. Mr Runciman then moved that Mr M'Kenzie’s resignation of the Avondale charge should be accepted, and the proposition was at once carried.