H.B. PRESBYTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10565, 19 April 1928, Page 5

H.B. PRESBYTERY.

FIRST"aCEETMiTiN GISBORNE. REA/ D. SiHAAV ELECTED MODERATOR. Gisborne was the scene yesterday, for the first time as far as is known, of a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Presbytery, which was lieid in St. Andrew’s Church. There was a very full attendance of members, about 20, from all parts of Hawke’s Bay and as far south as Woodville. The Bev. R. Alr:Cully, of Maraekaknho, presided in the earlier stages with the Rev. F. W. Robertson, of AVaipawa, as clerk of the Presbytery. The. Moderator expressed pleasure at the good attendance, particularly, of the elders. The Presbyterian Church was, he said, a church oi elders, for they were all elders, whether preaching or whether ruling. Commissions were sustained as follows: AlatawTiero, AD. Jas. -Bayliss.; Ormond, Air. AV. W. Bridge; Port Ahuriri, Air. Kirkham; Clive, Air. A. H. Gould. The meeting then proceeded to elect the Moderator for the forthcoming year, the Rev. D. J. Shaw. Hastings, being appointed -without opposition. Reference’ to the action or ■ the Alatawhero congregation in raising the stipend of its minister was made by several speakers, and on the motion of the Moderator, a vote of congratulation to the Matawlienyofficer.was passed with acclamation/ Reports of the work of various missiohers in' the district were then received and proved uniformly encouraging The gathering then extended f welcome' to two ministers who had recentlv joined the Presbytery, the Revs, Lowden (Mangapapa and Kaiti) and Scott ('Ormond). It was reported that tlie Haunioana (Clive Grange) Church had now been freed of debt, largely through the excellent . work of the ladies of that congregation, and the capable supervision. of Air. Gould, tlie home missionary. A. hearty,, vote, of congratulation to the ladies and to Air. Gould was carried. Methods of conducting the work in the home mission district of AYaikare was tlie subject of some comment by tlie secretary, who stated that, on 'tlie trip up. the southern _ members of the Presbytefy had visited AYaikare and there met five of the office hearers of the mission with whose keenness and- ability • they" had been highlv impressed. In this charge phe church was up against great difficulties, due to the rough nature.of the country, and the consequent high cost of maintenance. So heavy was the expense, continued Air. Robertson that there was grave danger of the mission being abandoned. Means of transport for the home missioned was the particular feature- requiring consideration. In the past a motor cycle had been used, but the speaker, considered that ta horse would be far more suitable and distinctly less costly. He moved, therefore, that the cycle he disposed' of and a hbrse and equipment purchased instead.—The. motion was carried without- dissent. - A report on n meeting of the Knox College (Dunedin) Council, whereat nominations for the mastership had been reduced to four, was received. The “Youth 'of the Church” committee for tlie ensuing year, was appointed as follows: Revs. Shaw and Hughes, Messrs. Gould, G. O. Griffiths, J. S. Butler, and C. G, Chris-/ holm, and representatives -of -.the Bible classes. Appreciation of the hospitality extended to visiting members of the Presbytery by-the Rev. Jas. and Mrs. Aitken, other local ministers, and' the laity who were acting as hosts or hostesses, w,as expressed by several speakers and a vote of thanks and appreciation was carried with acclamation. AD. Aitlceri suitably' responded. A suggestion that the next meeting of the Presbytery he held at Hastings met with stout opposition and on a vote the allocation was given to AVaipukarau where the meeting will be held on the last Tuesday, in June. - COMMISSIONS VISIT CHURCHES. Commissions appointed at yesterday’s' meeting of the Hawke's Bay Presbytery visited local' churches- last evening and were met, in all instances, by good attendances. At St. Andrew’s, the commission, comprising Revs. D. J. Shaw and J. Asher and Messrs. Kirkham arid •Sutherland, met the Rev. Jas. Aitken and office bearers of tlie church at the early and private session, when numerous questions wore asked and answered concerning "the welfare of the church. Afterwards the commission met the congregation when the Rev, J. Asher presided. After devotional exercises, short addresses were given by each member of . the commission. An enjoyable supper followed and thp /remainder of /the., ev'erffhg was, spent in social ‘inter/ course./'

A similar procedure was followed at the Slangapapa-Eaiti, Matawhero and Ormond churches, where/the commissiens comprised the following: Man-gapapn-Kniti, Rev. McCullv, Messrs. Milne, Baih and-Gould ; Matawhero, Revs. Waugh. Robertson and Gardiner .Mr. Kelly; Ormond, Revs. Mncky, Hughes, Neill; and McLeod., This evening a commission T will visit the Wairoa church. the member sheing t Revsi Shaw, MoCiilly and Hughes, and Mt. Sutherland.;