TARANAKI PRESBYTERY

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXII, 8 April 1911, Page 6

TARANAKI PRESBYTERY

The Taranaki Presbytery met on Thursday at the Hawera Presbyterian Church, and was constituted as toLlows:—Revs. W. H. Howes (Moderator), J- M. Thomson, J. R. Shore, D. Mclvor, J. McArthur, S. S. Osborne, and F W. Robertson, and Messrs Lennox, Bridge, Orr, Murray, Hicks, McDiarmid, Huston (elders). There -was a full meeting of members of Presbytery, and a large amount of business 'was transacted. Certain matters were considered in connection with the resignation of the Rev. S. S. Osborne. The sub-committee appointed to draw up a minute in connection with the resignation reported to the Presbytery that in respectfully acceding to the Rev. S. S. Osborne's request to be relieved of the charge of St. Andrews Church, New Plymouth, the Presbytery would place on record their high estimation of the valuable services rendered by him both to the town of New Plymouth and the district where he has labored so faithfully and strenuously for sixteen years, and to the Presbyteries of Wanganui and Taranaki, of which latter body he had been a wise and reverend father since its formation. The minute said tha* no man was respected more than Mr Osborne for sterling and upright character. * An interesting discussion followed as to who should be appointed Moderator of the vacant charge. 'The Rev. J. R. Shore was ultimately appointed by vote of the Presbytery, although it was freely recognised that he had had more than" his share of this kind of work. The Rev. F. W. Robertson (Eltham) was appointed Moderator of the mission station of Inglewood, and the Rev. J. McArthur Moderator of Okato district. Reports were received concerning the home mission stations, and showed that I general progress was being made. Mr Miller had been stationed at Waitara and a church site secured. Mr Adams has resigned from Okato, and Mr Albert from Inglewood, to take up work in other spheres. The thanks of the Presbytery were given to Mr Osborne for his arduous labors in connection with the home mission stations of Inglewood, Okato and Waitara. Mr J. C. Loan, of Normanby, reported on his work. As Mr Loan has now passed all necessary examinations, he was granted the powers of a missionary in full standing, to baptise and solemnise marriage. Application was made to the Century Fund for a loan of £300 for the Normanby manse. Permission was granted to Manaia congregation to introduce individual communion cups. All Church Committees were requested to report t»-the Clerk of Presbytery with reference to the church and manse land under their care, with a view to the transfer of such property to the Church Board of Property, in whom all church property is vested by Act of Parliament. The Revs. W. H. Howes and F. W. Robertson, and Messrs J. U. Murray and A. H. Lennox were appointed a commission to visit and report on Opunake. The Revs. J. R. Shore and J. M Thomson and Mr T. A. Bridge were appointed a commission to visit v.aver■ley. The other parishes will be taken m turn. Tl^ c} erk was instructed to write to the Outlook for an illustrated Taranaki supplement. A large amount of other business of a private nature was transacted.