AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7552, 3 February 1886, Page 3

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

A jteeting of the Auokland Presbytery was held at St. James' Church yesterday afternoon. Present: The Revs. A, Carrick (Moderator), T. Maoky, R. F. Maoniool, D. W. Runoiman, B. Sommerville (Clerk), G, B. Munro, D. 3. Steele, T. Norrie, J. Jones, A.' McKcnzie, A. Riddle, and Bruce. Elders : Messrs. J. Buchanan, MoNab, Bell, Badger, A. Thomson, Dunwoodie, and P. Mackie.

Moderator. —On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Sommerville, seconded by the Rev. R. F. Macnicol, the Rev. Mr. McCallum was appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. Rev. Mb. Diokson.—The Rev. R. I\ Macnicol introduced to the Presbytery the Rev. J. P. Diokson, from Ireland, and formerly of St. John'a Churoh, Sydney. He left Sydney in consequence of ill-health. The Moderator welcomed the Rev. Mr. Dickson on behalf of the Presbytery.

Place of Mketino of Prbsbytbry.— The Rev. T. Maoky moved, " That the request of St. Andrew's congregation be aoceded to by the Presbytery, and that the meetings of the Presbytery continue to be held at St. Andrew's as formerly." The Rev. Mr. Norrie the motion. The motion was carried unanimously.

Eldeks. — Notioe was received of the appointment of the following elders:—St. Stephen's, Mr. Thomas Peacook ; Papakura Presbyterian Church, Mr. James Bell; Onehunga, Mr. Andrew Dunwoodie; St. James', Mr. Peter Mackie; Remuera, Mr. James M. Lennox ; Otahuhu, Mr. Alexander Thomson ; St. Peter's, Mr. John Buchanan ; St. Andrew's, Mr. A. Bell.

Manaonui.—The committee of the Presbyterian ohurch at. Mangonui asked for a continuance of the grant of £25. On the motion of Mr. John Buchanan, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Macniool, it was resolved to recommend the grant to the Church* Extension Committee.

Supplying Country Districts'.—Mr. J. Bell said there was a want of attention to the country districts. It would be very desirable indeed if the Presbytery would bestir itself to provide for the spiritual wants of the settlers living in the out-dietricts. He moved, " That the Rev. Mr. Macrae be requested to place himself in communication with the Presbytery of Auckland, with the view of the neglected country districts being supplied with Christian ordinances by him." Mr. Bell condemned the supioeness of the Presbyterian Ohurch here, and said Presbyterianism was withering under the bands of the Church in Auokland ; in fact, the Church was not doing its duty. The Rev. Mr. Runciman and the Rev. Mr. Sommerville said they did not agree with Mr. Bell's condemnation of the lack of energy in the Churoh, and the progress whioh has been made in the various Presbyterian churches in this district was pointed out. After some discussion the resolution was carried in the following form :—" That the Churoh Extension Committee be requested to take into consideration the wants of Coromande), Great Barrier, Aratapu, Dargaville, Tairua, Mercury Bay, Mangapai, Parua Bay, and other distriots not at present provided with ordinances ; and that the said committee be requested to make such temporary arrangements as may seem to them to be expedient with the Rev. William Macrae or others, and to report to next meeting of this Presbytery."

Helensvillk.—The nse of the church at Helensville was granted to the Freemasons for ordinary lodge meetings, with certain restrictions* •'« ■< • .;...-

EuLSRSLIk And Eraok.—The Rev. Mr. Macniool ajjated the liev. Mr. Jones was not meeting with the anpport he expected in the mission services sit Ellerilie and Kpaora, and that he desired to be relieved of the duties there , ,- The Rer. Mr. Monro bore teßtiunony, to Mr. Jouee" faithfulne*a and zeal in hie work, bat he thought -there was hardly room for a Presbyterian minister in thoie districts. The Rev. Mr. Jones should be sent to a more promising district. Some diecuoeion took place on the subject, during whioh the Rev. Mr. Jonea stated that the services held in the districts referred to had been well attended, but there were very few Preabyterians there; they were mostly Anglicans and Wesleyane. The Rev. Mr. Sommerville said all the members of the Church Extension Committee would be in Auckland inj the conrse of a week, and he would ask the committee if they would give the Rev. Mr. Jones a suitable charge. The question was left in the hands of the present committee of the Presbytery to consider and report to noxt meeting of the Presbytery. Kohekobe.—The Rev. Mr. Riddle prodnoed plans of a church which it is proposed to erect at Eohekohe. The buildiug is to ooat £120, and there is £90 caih in hand. &T. Dayid'h.— 'J he Rev, Mr. Maonicolwas authorised to moderate in A call for St, David's.

Otahohu.—The Rev. Mr. Macky drew the attention of the Prechytery to the fact that there was a feeling of uneasiness on the part of the trustees of the Churph property at Otahtthu oneooount of the provisions of the Presbyterian Church Property Act of last session. The Rev. Mr. Sommerville said according to the trust deed of the Otahuhu property there was no danger of the property coming under the operation of the Act.