CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1836, 10 January 1880, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

The Presbytery of Christchurch met in St' Andrew’s Church schoolroom, on Sfh inst.., and was constituted with devotional exercises. Sederunt —The Rev, Messrs Hill (moderator), Hauxwell, Beattie, Horner, Oree, Blake, Fraser, McCracken, Cairns, McOullum, McGregor (clerk), Professor Salmond, and Messrs Wilson and Craighead (elders). Minutes of 13th November and 18th December were road, amended, and confirmed.

Mr Hill, retiring moderator, nominated Mr Horner as the next in order inducted to take the moderator’s chair, which was seconded by Mr Fraser.

Mr Hill thanked the brethren for their kind assistance during the tenure of his office.

Mr Horner said he had to thank the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him. On the motion of Mr Fraser, The Roy. Professor Salmond and the Rev. Messrs McCracken, Cairns, and Westbrooke, were associated to take part in the proceedings. Mr Beattie made application for authority to moderate in a call for the Rakaia district to Mr Westbrooke, and stated as the people had to build churches end manse, they were not prepared to guarantee more at present than the minimum stipend of £250, Mr Fraser moved, and Mr Cree seconded — “ That the Moderator of the Rakaia district be authorised to moderate in a call at an early and convenient date.” Mr Fraser applied for authority to moderate in a call for Halkett, Kimberley, and Weedons, to Mr Burnett. Too people, he said, had bought a house for a manse at £350, and were unable to promise more in the meantime than the minimum stipend of £250 Mr Hill moved that authority be gr -nted to the Moderator to moderate in a call at an early date,” which was seconded by Mr Cree. Commission from Papanui congregation, on behalf of Mr Robert Wilson, aa representative elder, was laid on the table and received. Mr Beattie reported that he had seen Mr Robert Wilkin regarding site at Tinwald, and that he had kindly granted a site for a manse as well as for a church.

Mr McGregor said it was gratifying to hear that tvro sites had been kindly granted by Mr Wilkin instead of one, and ho proposed that a vote of thanks bo recorded for his liberal gift, which was cordially seconded by Mr Oree and agreed to. Letter from Mr Sheriffs, General Assembly’s convener of finance committee, was read, and clauses of General Assembly’s proceed ings referred to therein. Mr McGregor proposed—“ That the Eevs. Messrs Hill, Cree and Hauxwell be our representatives at the meeting of the General Assembly of the Church in Auckland,” which was seconded by Mr Blake and agreed to. Mr Fraser proposed—“ That a committee be appointed to make arrangements to supply the pulpits of the ministers who attend the Assembly ; the committee to consist of the moderator, the clerk and the mover,” which was seconded by Mr Hill and agreed to. Letter from Mr Douglas was read and laid on the table, and it was moved by Mr Fraser —“ That a committee of Presbytery be appointed to consult with Mr Douglas and the various congregations of the Peninsula, and to report to next meeting ; the committee to consist of Messrs Fraser and Hill.” Letter from Mr Elmslie, regarding evening service in Montreal street north, was laid on the table. Mr Hill moved—“ That the matter be remitted to the Presbytery’s church extension committee, to ascertain if a charge could not be originated at once.” Mr Oree seconded.

Telegram from Mr Elmslie, requesting that Mr Tout may have authority to baptize, was read. It was moved by Mr Hill, and seconded by Mr Cree, that it cannot be granted. Mr Hill introduced the Rev. Thos. Cairns, from the Irish Presbyterian Church, and ho laid his commission and resolution of the Presbytery of Ballyna, &c., on the table, which were received, and the Moderator welcomed him as a fellow-laborer within their bounds. Letter of Mr Whiteburn was read relative to resolutions of Presbyterians of Sydenham. The matter was held as satisfactory. Letters acknowledging thanks from Messrs Wilson and Meredith wore read and received with much pleasure. On the motion of Mi Blake, it was agreed that there bo a conference on the state of religion within the bounds at next meeting. Mr McGregor was asked if the resolutions of Presbytery’s deputation to Kaiapoi had been carried out. Ho replied that there had been no congregational meeting. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Fraser —“ That the deputation of Presbytery meet the congregation again, to see that their resolutions were given effect to.” It was proposed by Mr Cree, and seconded by Mr Blake—“ That the Moderator telegraph Pasror Ohiniquy that the Presbytery will bo glad to welcome him on his arrival in Christchurch.”

It was intimated that at next meeting the questions should be asked if all schedules are forwarded to General Assembly from congregations, and if all stipends were paid up to the end of 1879.