PRESBYTERY OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 317, 26 December 1857, Page 5

PRESBYTERY OF OTAGO.

This Court held its usual half yearly meeting on the 22nd instant, in the Session House, Dunedin ; Rev. Mr. Bannerman, Moderator.

The meeting having been duly constituted by prayer and the reading of the Word, commissions from the Kirk Sessions of Dunedin, appointing James Macandrew, Esq., J.P. ; of East Taieri, appointing Mr. John Hislop, teacher ; and of Tokomairiro, appointing Mr. George Brown, to represent them in the Presbytery during the current half-year, were laid upon the table and sustained, and the names of these elders were added to the roll.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Will, the name of John M'Gkshan, Esq., Procurator of the Church, was added to the roll.

The minutes having been read and approved of,

The Procurator intimated that the report and memorial in reference to the Maori population, agreed to at a f >rmer meeting, had been trans.nitted to his Honor the Superintendent, and had been laid by the Provincial Government before the Provincial Council ; that the latter had passed resolutions in support of the objects of the memorial, but that there was no official communication on the subject before the Presbytery.

It was then moved by Mr. Macandrew, and seconded by the Rev. Mr. Will —

" That the Presbytery, understanding that the Provincial Council has "passed resolutions to the effect that the Executive Government should at once take steps to carry out the_suggestions of the Presbytery with regard to Industrial Schools for the Maori population, and as no steps seem as yet to have been taken, resolved— l. That the Presbytery asain call the attention of his Honor the Superintendent to this matter, and that his Honor be again apprised of the willingness of the Presbytery to cooper.Ue with the Executive in the way of collections, or otherwise, as may be deemed expedient. 2. That in case the Provincial Government shall decline to follow out the views of the Pro\incial Council, the Presbytery forthwith represent the urgency of the case to the General Government, and request that a fair share of the £7000 a-year set down on the Civil List for Native purposes be assigned to the Pro\ince. 3. That the Moderator, in his communication to the General Government, call its attention to the necessity of placing the Commission recently appointed under the Native Reserves Act, in a position to devote the valuable property set aside for the natives in this Province to their moral and physical amelioration. 4. That a standing committee" be appointed, with power to act on behalf of the Presbytery, either in co-operating with the Government or otherwise, in carrying out the desires of the Presbytery with regard to the Maori population, and that it be remitted to said committee to take such steps as it may deem best to interest the public mind ; said committee to consist of the Procurator, Rev. Mr. Burns, Mr. Hislop, and Mr. Macandrew. The Procurator to be convener."

Finally, in connection with this subject, it was moved by Mr. Hislop, and seconded by Mr. Macandrew—

" That the Moderator be requested to prepare a Pastoral Address, directing the attention of the people to their duty in regard to the Maori population, and that tfce same, with the Report of the committee on this subject appended thereto, be printed and widely circulated."

Several members of Presbytery having adverted to the circumstance that the Report of the committee on the state of the Maori population, had appeared in only one of the two Provincial newspapers, and that an impression in consequence had gone abroad that the Presbytery had purposely withheld the report from the other paper, it was stated that the editor of the Witness had been expressly requested to publish the report, but had declined in consequence of its length.

The Procurator having reported with respect to the new Trust Deeds, it was moved by Mr. Hislop, seconded by Rev. Mr. Will, and agreed to, that the Model Trust Deed of congregational property be transmitted to the several Deacons' Courts for their consideration.

The Moderator laid upon the table of the Presbytery an application from the Deacon's Court of Tokomairiro, to the effect that they propose to purchase a glebe in connection with that charge, and praying the Presbj tery to instruct the Trustees to defray the purchase-money from the Trust Fund. ldLa.3 resolved that the rf quest be complied with, aiwwhat the Trustees be directed to secure the land to the extent of 50 acres, if to be had. •.

It was further resolved that, the Trustees, be instructed to acquire as speedily as possible such sites and lands as they may deem to be suitable and, necessary for churches, schools, manses,, and. -ministers' glebes in the districts of Campbell town, Jacob's River, and Invercargill. " > t , „,-'* "'t - "

The Convenor of the Sustentation Fund, John Gillies, Esq., R.M., gave ia the following report :— £ s. d. Balance in hand last year 275 19 2 Paid Dividend of £90 11s. 4d. to each of the three Ministers 271 14 0 Balance 4 5 2 Received from Dunedin Congregation 111 3 6 East Taieri £68 0 6 TaieriFerry 15 5 0 West Taieri 11 9 0 94 14 6 Tokomairiro £38 9 0 Clutha 31 5 0 69 14 0 Due from Clutha 6 0 0 £286 17 2 Deduct account paid for printing 9 5 9 £277 11 5 Thus leaving a balance in the Treasurer's hands of £277 Is. 5d., which will give a dividend of £92 7s. Id. to each of the three ministers. Mr. Gillies called the attention of the Presbytery to the circumstance that the Dunedin Congregation had fallen short in its contributions to this Fund, whereas the rural congregations had risen in their contributions. Had Dunedin kept the position it held six months ago, the dividend to each minister would have shown a greater increase. Mr. Will stated that the feeling to increase the Sustentation Fund was very general throughout the East Taieri District, and that that district, including Green Island, were taking steps so as to increase their Sustentation Fund, and become immediately a distinct charge. Rev. Mr. Burns expressed his satisfaction at the increase manifested in the returns from the Taieri District. Mr. Macandrew moved — "That the report submitted by the Convenor of the Sustentation Fund Committee be received and approved of; that the thanks of the Presbytery be conveyed to the convenor, and the earnest attention of the committee be directed through him, to the necessity of more vigorous steps being taken towards placing the Fund in a more satisfactory position, especially in the prospect of Larger demands upon it which the anticipated arrival of additional ministers will involve ; and that the dividend of £92 7s. Id , as suggested in the report, be paid to each minister, and the Treasurer be instructed accordingly." It was further resolved that the Deacons' Courts be authorised to pay their respective ministers the amount of Sustentalion Fund collected by them for the first quarter after the half-yearly dividend is declared by the Presbytery, and that the minister's receipt for the same be transmitted to the General Treasurer. Rev. Mr. Will having reported that Mr. Allan, of Port Chalmers, might be induced to accompanyMr. Gillies and himself on his mission to the South em District, the Presbytery resolved that the name of Mr.- Allan be added to the deputatiom Rev. Mr. Burns having intimated that he had received a letter from the Convener of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, announcing that the Rev. Mr. M'Nicol was to sail in the Strathallati, from Leith, expected here daily, the Presbytery resolved that the Rev. Mr. Burns, the Procurator, and Mr. Macandrew be appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements for the disposal of Mr. Mr. M'Nicol's services till the Presbytery meets. Rev. Mr. Will laid upon the table a memorial from settlers in West Taieri, requesting the Presbytery to supply that district with a minister, and promising subscriptions to the amount of £104 10s. Mr. Will supported the prayer of the memorial, and intimated that it was the wish of his Session and Deacon's Court that the prayer of the memorial be granted.

Rev. Mr. Burns having expressed his satisfaction with the object of the memorial, the following motion was agreed to : —

" That the memorial from the settlers at West and North Taieri be received ; that the Presbytery express its great satisfaction at the movement therein contemplated, its earnest desire to carry into effect the important object of the memorialists, and its resolution to take all convenient steps for that purpose. 1 '

The Presbytery having then agreed that the next Ordinary meeting be held on the Tuesday immediately following the third Sabbath of June next adjourned accordingly, and the proceedings were closed with prayer.