CANTERBURY PRESBYTERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1189, 28 January 1864, Page 5

CANTERBURY PRESBYTERY.

terv in iin • P ur P ose forming a PresbySt Anri V",'! Vi " efc was 0,1 Tuesday last, .at Tlir S • ircll ' at n ' ;{o a.m. Present- "p OWI Ministers and gentlemen were Grarr ' raser » Christchnrch; Kev. (}. Jitv. \V H Kroa ' ' ' rton ) Kaiapoi, anil J. Oillf^np'^'A^ l Strict i Messrs. G. Duncan, Tl" *' r J " ™"»g elders. hy the lmv ' n S ,M ' (in opened with prayer J j «a!,n, tl' "f : BB » a,ld ,tl»e singing of the 122 nd Resident i '■ I! , V- gentleman, who was chosen Marked tIV» ri t < i a(ltlrfcssetl ie assembly. He repun,ose „f f woro aßS embled that day for the "!!(] he ! i 10 ..i; ) . r ' 1 | lin f. a Presbytery in Canterbury, course v i • i i 11 be the most advisable W. Kiruln 7 could P l,rsue > to elect the Rev. ttark 0 f r t lloder »t°r. He was entitled to this seniority , aiu * co "fi<lence, not only from WE iflil ri '""u ; foet """ '« "»» thr; Uniiwi p Church °f Scotland wlio had joined In all i»rolmlJrf fv. an Church o£ New Zealand, the I'rfcshvtJ;. I',? 16 W0ll ' ( ' 80f »» be a meeting of hi (jj r . l uir f held i" Canterbury, and then he tali i ? ou 1 but that Mr - Kirton woukl thtrofore i!!fvi ,ll,on . ° , act as M / ,d( ' rat<ir - He should ltov \v vL re , P' easui 'e in proposing that t lie rator of S lf> 2 8 f °" l<l v be appointed as the ModeCanterbury p «sbytery in the Province of which llogo seconded the resolution, Theli w ( ' arrie(3 ' He accrii •,? IRTON the Presbytery, office to »i,s,\ great reluctance, the v cur a<! f„. | ie }iad been elected, and would endea- " in htm«w aS \ n m lay ' to discharge the duties of Most Hiffh e J l ienc ' ence "P on )e blessing of the M'aa almnct, ome fourteen years ago Canterbury an, l trinmra! 1 i 0wn ' now had made a most rapid it n, e P r °gress. He always had thought though lm 10 the provinces of the colony, beinrr jyJ l^ 1, anticipated having the honor of tn'k 0 a ( :' anterbnr y Presbytery. It possible ° , ave a Presbytery here; it was imlhe church win h . ome » t0 carr y on the affairs of flies. Hp ... , ? one > niuch more so in the colore erectp/) 1.1 no T P ron °unce the Presbytery to good of men p ' to t,ie B lor y °f God and the .hat h h c R !LS , F f ASEU waß elected clerk. He stated the duties ct iu reat P ,eaßV »re in discharging that if thfi nffl 6 °® ce gratuitously; but he thought ce wag made a permanent one, a salary

should be attached to it, as there would be many expenses to be defrayed. '1 lie commission appointing the Rev. W. Hogg to pastorate of tlie district north of the Ashley wan put in and rend. It was resolved that the names of the officiating ministers of whom the Presbytery was composed should be transmitted to the Registrar-General at Auckland, in conformity with the Marriage Act. A letter signed by several members of the congregation of St. Andrew's Church, tendering the use of the church for the purposes of the Presbytery, was read. It was resolved that the offer should be accepted with thanks. An extract from the minutes of the General Presbyterian Assembly was read with reference to tlie extension of the Presbyterian Church in Canterbury. Ivaiapoi, and Timaru, were recommended to be constituted primary districts. A verbal communication was also made by the Rev. C. Eraser, to the effect that it was desirable that some suitable provision should be made for supplying the spiritual wants of the outlying parts of the province. It was determined that a standing committee should be appointed for the purpose of transacting the general business of the Presbytery, and that snch committee should communicate with his Honor the Superintendent informing him of the formation > of the Presbytery. j

The roll of the Presbytery was then made up. The Rev. W; Hogg entered upon a statement of the results of a visitation made by him in the district north of the Ashley, which had been assigned to him as the scene of his ministerial labors. He had been quite astonished to find that the Presbyterians were sc, numerous as he had found them to be in that neighbourhood. They consisted of English, Scotch, Irish, and German families, and he had been received by them all in the most friendly and hospitable spirit. He was convinced, from personal experience, that an absolute necessity existed for the services of itinerant Missionary ministers. There was ample room for the labors of at least two snch ministers, as he had suggested. On some future occasion he would have great pleasure in laying before the Presbytery some further details as to the effect of his ministrations amongst those to whom he was commissioned to preach the Gospel. One most pleasing circumstance had occurred, and it was with the utmost gratification that he men-

tioned it to his hearers. Resolving to make Leithfield

the head quarters of his duties, he had inspected some land in that vicinity with the intention of purchasing it with the view to the erection of a residence for himself and his family. To his regret he found that the price exceeded his means, and he had resolved very reluctantly to abandon the idea of buying it. A short time afterwards, he received a

most kind letter from Mr. Leith, the owner, couched in very handsome terms, generously offering it to him' as a free gift, on condition that he at once built a house upon it, and

;hat he did not alienate it during his life.

[Mr. Hogg here read the letter, and observed that although the land was a personal donation from Mr. Leith to himself, he should consider himself in duty bound to hand it over to the Presbyterian Church, and expressed his willingness to execute a deed for

:hat purpose.] The Rev. Gentleman resumed: He

had also had an offer from Mr. Caverhill (as we understood) of a piece of land near the Kowai, upon which to build a manse for the use of a minister who might be appointed to that district. The Presbyterian body were already in possession of a section in the same locality, where they could build a church.

The Rev. C. Fraser had listened to the observations of Mr. Hogg with respect to the numerical strength of the Presbyterian body in the province with much gratification but without surprise. He had always been convinced that they were a very powerful community, and hitherto his remarks to that effect had been listened to with some degree of incredulity. However, he had been amply confirmed as to the truth of his anticipations by the address which the assembly had just heard. In the outlying districts there were many settlers ivho, if not themselves members of the Presbyterian community, had many persons in their employment who were, and he was convinced that these gentlemen Avould not only do all in their power by kindly and hospitably welcoming ministers who might visit them from time to time, but that they would also aid the movement by more substantial tokens of their appreciation of their ministerial labors. Some discussion ensued, in which several members present took part. The proceedings terminated with prayer and the Benediction by the Rev. the Moderator, and the Presbytery, on the motion of the Rev. C. Fraser, adjourned until 3.30 p.m. The Presbytery resumed at that hour. The Committee named at the morning diet, gave in their report on the appointment of a Standing Committee, and the first draft of an address to his Honor the Superintendent. The report was approved, and a committee named, of which the Rev. C. Fraser was appointed convener. The Moderator was requested to sign the address on behalf of the Presbytery, and to transmit the same to the Superintendent. A call was presented in favour of the Rev. G. Grant, of Akaroa, to be minister of a second charge in Christchurch. Messrs. Wilson, McPherson and Anderson were heard in support of the same. After some discussion, Avhicli was mainly occasioned by a desire to give due consideration to the interests of the congregation of Akaroa, the following deliverance was, on the motion of the Rev. C. Fraser, unanimously agreed to: — " That the Presbytery hereby recognise the applicants as forming a distinct pastoral charge, sustain the call, and replace the same in the hands of the Rev. G. Grant." This having been done, Mr. Grant intimated his acceptance of it, and the usual steps were arranged with a view to his translation. The memorialists submitted a written guarantee to provide Mr. Grant with a stipend of not less than £350 per annum for the first year. It was resolved that a committee of the Presbytery be appointed to visit Lyttelton to report oil the state of the church there, and to take all such steps as may be necessary to promote the general interests of the church in that locality. It was determined that the ordinary meetings of the Presbytery should be held on . the second Wednesday in each quarter, viz., April, July, October and January. It was resolved that the clerk be instructed to furnish the Deacon's Court with a statement of the numbers of communicants, seat-holders, and adherents of the churches, classifying the latter according to their yearly payments. The liev. Moderator, in concluding the business of the day, congratulated those present on the harmony and good feeling which had characterised the first meeting of the Presbytery of Canterbury. J