DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 8478, 1 April 1891, Page 2

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Dunedin Presbytery met in First Ohuroh Hall this morning; present—the Mod4dtor (Rev, B. Hutspn), Revs. Dr Stuart, Fraaer, R R. M» Sutherland, A. M. Finiayson (clerk), J. Kirkland, J. M. M'Kerrow, J. M. Sutherland, A. Cameron, D. Borric A. Don, A. P. Davidson, R. J. Porter, J. Campbell, J. Greig, J. Christie ; Messrs J, Paterson, A. Catherwood, W. Hutton, D. Hood, D. Thomson, and J. Waugh, elders. PROHIBITION ON THB HERVEY GBOCP. The Colonial Secretary wrote, under dite February 12, acknowledging receipt of the resolution of the Presbytery of Dunedin addressed to His Excellency the Governor, urging him to use his influence to have the wishes of the Natives of the Hervey Group given effect to in the matter of prohibiting' the sale of intoxicating liquors therein. In a letter dated March 6 he further wrote, enolosing for the information of the Presbytery copies of letters, from which, he said:" it would be seen that the Natives referred to did not wish the sale of intoxicating liquors absolutely prohibited, but favored their sale under control and restriction.

The following letter from Mr F. J. Moss, British Resident in the group, to the Rev. James Chalmers, is one of the communications referred to :

Wellington, 30th January, 1891, My dear Mr Chalmers. In my report to the Governor of the proceedings of Council at Raratonga on 22nd and 24th December, I have stated as fe lows: —' Minutes of meeting, 22nd December. Question put—- ' Shall a Bill be passed for total prohibition or for the control and restriction of the sale (of intoxicating liquors) as proposed in the Bill before the Council, and Prohibition be only resorted to if this fails?' There voted for control and restriction in preference to prohibition: Makea, Tinomaiia, Pa, Tepou, Maovete, Takao, Karika. Mr Gelling, the only remaining member, aßked ' that the noes should Dot be taken till he had an opportunity of consulting the f oreigu residents. It bad been asserted that a majority of them were in favor of Prohibition. If so, he would vote for Prohibition ; if not, it would be better to have such a Bill as that bsfore the Council.' The Council thereupon adjourned." " December 24,1890. Extract from minutos. —Mr Gelling stated that he had taken the opinion of his constituents (the foreign residents) and found a great majority were against Prohibition He would therefore vote for the Bill. After several amendments the Bill was finally paßßed." As you were kind enough to aot as interpreter for the Council on the occasion, and aa statements contrary to the above have been put into circulation in Auckland, I Bhould be obliged if you consider the above a oorreot summary of what occured, and as a correct version of the motion as put, by you stating so on this note. It may be useful, as you will be away. Frederick J. Moss,

To this the Rev. James Chalmers adds the following note : " The foregoing is correct." To the paragraph commencing " December 24" Mr Chalmers adds a marginal note as follows: "In fact, only two were in its favor."

The following letter from the Rev. Mr Chalmers to His Excellency the Governor was also read :

Dunedin, February 5, 1891. To His Excellency the Earl of Onslow, Governor of New Zoaland.

My Lord, —I have the honor to reply to your telegram, received last uight. No ouo of the Arikia wish for Prohibition, except for their own people, and that of such a kind that they may be able to procure spirits as "vairakau" (medicine) whon necessary. They are decidedly opposed to prohibiting the white man having liquor, and have expnssed themselves openly in favor of its being allowed him on permit. The Arikls cannot carry out Prohibition alone, and the best that could be done under the circumstances was that advised by Mr Moss. For ten years I lived in Karatonga, and know well how Impossible it was to work Prohibition. I have good hopes the present law will do more to stop drink than any former prohibitory law During Mr Moss's stay on the island the public - houses, which numbered over twenty, were closed, and during that time I did not see one drunken man or woman, whereas when I arrived five weeks before Mr Moss drunkenness was prevalent everywhere, and strong drink sold openly at bats to men and women, and that when a strong prohibitory law was supposed to be in force. lam of opinion that if it is necessary to suppress strong drink, and under no condition whatever to allow Natives to have it, a skilled European officer, with a f uropean staff, will be neoeoaary to assist Mr Moss, as no Native officer can be trusted to carry out tho law. To prohibit white traders having what they require for personal use would be an uncalled fur hardship, and one that no officer, however sk'lled, could carry out on an island like JJaratonga. I am quite in favor of the present arrangement having a fair trial, and hope for its success. If abused by the white resident?, then total prohibition might again be tried. Rev. J. M. Fraser said that the letters put a different face on matters. It was almost necessary for Dr Stuart to apologise. —(Laughter.) Rev. Dr. Stuart said he did not intend to do that, because he had information before him at the last meeting that justified him in making his statement. It was agreed to receive the communications with thanks. KAIKORAI, An application was received from the Church Committee of Kaikorai for a grant of LSO for maintenance of the manae. The Presbytery agreed to grant the application. THEOLOGICAL HALL. An application was received from Mr Robert Henry Blair, student (Central Otago), asking to be admitted to the theological hall, Rev. Mr Borrie moved—" That Mr Blair be recommended to attend the classes of English language, Greek, and either moral philosophy or one branch of natural science or physics, and, in the event of his satisfying the Presbytery with the work of this year, the Presbytery will then recommend the Synod to allow him to enter the theological hall." The motion was oarried. THE MISSION FOND. Rev. Mr Ryley moved—" That a harvest thanksgiving be appointed to be held in the course of this month, and that a collection be taken on that day on behalf of the mission fund of our church," Rev. Mr Kirkland seconded the motion, which was carried. The Presbytery adjourned till the first Wednesday in June.