INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 380, 12 March 1859, Page 5

INVERCARGILL.

As we have received no particulars respecting the meetings held for the undermentioned purposes, we have taken the following from our contemporary :: — • On the Rth ult . a meeting was held in this place of those fiiendly to the securing a Presbyterian minihter. The meeting having been opened with prayer by the Rev. \V. Bannprman, a general conversation ensued, all expressing a strong desire to secure a minister as eaily as possible. Inquiry boincr made as to the destination of Mr. Tod, Jlr. Binnennan stated that that vvns not yet fixed, but thit Tokomsiiiiro had a prior claim to him, in consequence of the action of the Presbytery in connection with that pnri.-h. Mr, Banneimati aUo stated that at present the several country ministeis preached at To'ioinairiro fortnightly in roUtinn. It was then suggested that this arrangement might be continued some time lousier, till an additional minister was obtained, vihich would enable the Piesbytery to have Mr. Tod inducted at Invrrcargill, the population connected with it being at least as numerous as that of Tokonsairiro, nnd beyond the reach of die other ministers, who could not be expected to leave their own parishes to attend to the very urgent necessities of Invereareiill and neighbourhood, the population of which is so rapidly increasing. The hope was also expressed that in these circumstances I Tolunn.iiriio would foiego its claim to Mr. Tod, and I leave the Presbytery fice to appoint him to Invercargill. In expectation of this it was unanimously aijreed to that the following memorial be transmitted to the Presbjterj .— " UXTO THE HUV. 'IHK PIiESBYTERY Or OTAGO. " We. the undersigned residents in Invercargill and noighlxnuhnod, understanding tbat the Piesbvtory is in expedition of an additional minister, respectfully request that the Presbytery, taking into consideration the gieat spiritual destitution of this diitiict, Yiuuld appoint the minister expected to this locality ; and we pledge ourselves to do our utmost to secure an adequate support towaids the ministiy among us by coniiibiuing to the Geneial t>usientatiou Fund." The niPmoii.il has been signed by nearly sixty individuals. But a larger .sjgnatuie would have been obtained, had the memorial bet-n circulated tluough the disuict. After the adoption and signing of the above memorial, the meeting was closed with pravnr. W c understand tli.it Mr. Baunerman pleached on three successive Sabbaths, the attendance on all occasions being veiy laige, and on one occasion numbeiins; neail) a hundied.

Eni'rwTiONAi, Alei-.ting —In nceoH.im-e with an advertisement ot' date llih J.uiuni y, ISv9, a meeting of the peißons residing within iliis district liable to a«si>ssinPMt for the purposes of the LMucaiion Ordinance, 18.>6, was lirld at th- Lind Office up.m Tui'-dn\, the Bth Febiu.-ry. On the motion of Mr. Blacklock, seconder! nv Mr. How.iul, Captain Kilos took the clnir. 'I he (.'haiim.m ha\ iiitj rend the ad101 ti'seinent calling l!.e meeting, intiodnced the Rev. W. Ranneiin.m and Mi. Hepburn, the deputation from tin Ediiratinn.il 00.-ud, who tpve. a full and lengthened explanation of the Education Ordinance, and also of the object of the meeting — the electing of an educational committee, ;uul the giving that committee mhli instructions ;i> the meeting micrht see fit. The cltpiitation havinjr addiessed the meeting, and given hatisfddmy answers to several queues put to them by the nieeuiur, Mi. Blacklock moved, iccondoil by Mr. Ritchie— That in oidor to the election of the eunnuitteo, pach voter shall hand in to the Chairman a list of seven names, signed by the voter. 'I he molnm having been agreed to, the following feiHlemen weie chosen as the toiiiinitice, viz. — i\!e*.-irs. Blarklock, White, Kile, Caldei, Lind. FeigiiMm, and Ross A vote of thinks having bren passed to the deputation, and also lo the ('liai:min, the mceiina separated. We uiulcistand the committee met immediately after their election, sinr) made choice of Mcs-ms. White and Ross to lepresent them at the Genoial Board, and that at a subsequent meeting they elecfpd the Rev. Ale\i. Bethim" us a tetcl-ei , whose election awaits the confirmation of the General Board.

Riverton, Jacob's Rivi;u.— The deputation from tiip General Board of Educaticn, con.sisting of the Rev. \V. Bannerninn and Mr. Hepbtnn, appointed to attend at the electinn of an educational committee at ImeicargiU, visited this district to make inquii) into its educational wants. Several

of the settlers met with the deputation, and supplied them with the statistics of the district, a3 to the children capable of attending school at Riverton. According to the information given, it seems that perhaps the largest school (Dunedin cscepted) in the Province might be formed in this town, 'Che deputation strongly urged upon those present immediately to memorialize the Board to have Riverton proclaimed info an educational district, and to have the memorial signed by as rnanv n« possible in the district. The suggestion was, coidialiv adopted, and has resulted, we understand, in :i n.unerouhly signed memorial, that has been tiau^mittod to the secretary of the General Board.