DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 876, 12 September 1868, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The quarterly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held on 2nd inst., in the school-room beneath the First Church. There were present the Key. M. Watt, M. A., Moderator. The Key. Messrs Stuart, Sutherland, Scrimgeour, Will, Johnston, Ryley, M'Naughton, Christie, Greig, Gillies, and Connor, Ministers. Messrs Mollison, Wilkie, King, Somerville, A. Eling, and Cargill, Elders.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Clerk (the Rev. W. Gillies) read the following report upon the Schedules, which had been issued by the Presbytery in reference to the state of the Church within the bounds.

The returns s^nt in represent nominally 12, but really 14, congregations, as in two instances—Otepopo and Hampden, and Waikouaiti and Palmerston — there are two separate congregations, with separate organisations, though under one ministerial charge. Taking, then, the number of congregations as 14, there are 10 of them which have the regular organisation of elders and deacons, and four which, instead of deacons, have simply managers. The number of elders m all is 79, two-fifths of that number, or 32, being in Dunedin. Of deacons there are in all 70, the proportion in Dunedin being rather more than two-fifths, or 31. In Dunedin, the number of elders and deacons is just about equal, the elders having only a majority of 1 . The managers in four country congregations number 26. Of communicants, there are a total of 2454, nearly one-half, or 1200, being in Dunedin. In connection with 11 out of the 14 congregations, there are Sabbath schools, with a staff of 123 teachers, about three-fifths, or 75, being in Dunedin. The average attendance is 1029, of which Dunedin claims over three-fifths, or 640 children ; the actual attendance will, of course, be somewhat larger. The proportion of scholars to each teacher is slightly over 8. Of ministers' Bible classes, there are 10, with an average attendance of 273, of which 125, or little over two-fifths, are in Dunedin All the 12 ministers have manses, and 13 of the congregations have church buildingß,

The number of sittings in these 13 churches is 4137, of which considerably over twofifths (nearly ane-half), or 1980, being provided in the three Dunedin churches. But at two out- stations (Blueskin aad Greytown) there are also church buildingo with an additional seat accommodation for 280. Comparing tho actual church accommodation in Dunedin of 1980 sittings with the Presbyterian population, according to last Census, of 5478, it will be seen that there is accommodation for only little over one-third of the Presbyterians ; and as the population in the other districts amounts to about 10,000 souls, from which we may deduct, say, 4000 as beyond the reach of ordinances, or in attendance at other places of worship, 6000, which is somewhat under the Presbyterian population above returned as resident ia these districts, as against slightly over 2000 sittings of church accommodation, so that there are still 4000 unprovided for. In the 13 churches there are 3852 sittings let, showing in all only 255 unlet, and of which unlet sittings only five are in Dunedin. The proportion of sittings let is just a little over oue-half more than the number of communicants ; the proportion in Dunedin being just about the same as over the others; communicants in Dunedin being 1200, and sittings let lS7u. The average attendance is 3530, the average for the forenoon being taken where there are two regular services. This attendance shows an absence of only 392 seatholders, or a little more than one in a thousand, and of these absentees only 105, or less than two fifths, are in Dunedin. To the average attendance at the regular churches must be added an additional 450 at out-stations, miking in all an attendance of 3080, as against a population of at least 11,000. All the 12 ministers, save one, have two services regular, y each Sabbath day, and his return states " he hopes soon to have two." Iv connection with S out of the 14 congregations, there are weekly prayer meetings ; and in one other there is a monthly meeting ; and in another occasional district meetings. Six congregations have libraries consiaiing f>f 3916 volumes, of which 3459 volumes belong to the three Dunedin congregations. The various church and mans© buildings were erected at a cost of L 23.865, the dei t on which is only L 3254. or less than one-seventh of the total cost. To the total cost, Dunedin contributes L9OOO, or rather less than two-fifths of the whole ; and Li soo to the de t, or some svhat more than twofifths of the whole. St. Andrew's, Dunedin, however, is not included, as the returns upon these money matters were not filled in from that congregation. Four out of the 13 congregations have no debt at all, whose contributions to the total cost amounted to L 5325 ; and other three congregations, whose contributions to the total cost of buildings amounted to L 5350, have a debt of only L3SO between them. The other sums are so distri uted that no very serious debt rests upon any.

The report was ordered to be entered on the minutes.

A request from, the congregation at Oamaru for the moderation of a call was received, and was granted, and Wednesday, 16th instant, fixed for that purpose. It was arranged that the Rev. M. Watt preach and preside, the edict to be served on Sabbath first by Rev. Mr Ryley. Plans for a Manse at Kaikorai were laid on the table, and sustained ; the usual grant towards building being authorised. The plans for a Manse at North-East Harbor were also submitted, but the sanctioning of them was remitted to a Committee. The plans of the proposed new church for St Andrew's congregation were laid t efore the Presbytery, and highly commended. The Rev. Dr Burns presented to the Presbytery, for the use of the College, more than 150 volumes of valuable theological works from his private library. He desired that students might have free access to them, to aid them in their studies for the ministry. The Presbytery, in accepting the gift, expressed their warmest appreciation of the donor's kindness, and the hope that his example would be followed by others. Mr James Chisholm was appointed librarian. The Presbytery ordered the records of Sessions and Deacons' Courts to be brought up for examination at the next sitting. The Rev. W. Gillies gave notice, " That at the next meeting, he would propose the transmission of an overture to the Synod, anent the administration of the Ministers' Widows and Orphans Fund." The Presbytery adjourned, to meet at Oamaru on the 16th instant, and ihe next ordinary meeting was fixed for Wednesday, December 23rd.

The New Zealand Advertiser states that on the arrival of the s.s. Airedale at Kelson, His Lordship the Bishop of lichfield and New Zealand presented a very complimentary address to Captain Kennedy for the promptitude with which he rendered assistance to the shipwrecked passengers by the Taranaki. A suitable reply was made by the " Prince of New Zealand coasters." We fancy it was an omission not to have thaaked Captain Benson, the Manager of the Company, for his praiseworthy efforts in connection with this much required relief, which has been so properly appreciated by the passengers. Only for Captain Benson's energy, supported as it was by the officers under his command, the unfortunate passengers by the Taranaki might have wanted assistance for days instead of hours.