DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 16

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

JChe Xhmeftin Presbytery met in the Ball ~at First Church, on the 2nd inst., there i>eing present the Moderator (the Rev. Jas. Chishohn), th© Jtevs. W. Will, A. M. Fin- , •layson, R. R. M. Sutherland, J. Christie, - T>. JBorri©, "A. Cameron, D. Dutton, I. K. iM'lntyre, W. Hewitson, E. C. Tennent, W. -Scorgie, " R. Fairmaid, R. Maokie, J. J. Cairney, D. M'CcJl, L. Thomson, A. W. ■ Kinmont, J. Kilpatrick, J. S. Ponder, and J>r .Nisbet. Th© following elders also at- • .tended:— Meesrs W. H. Adams, D. Thorn- . «oh, Jcdm Blair, A. Chisholm, R. Bagrie, : G. Reid, T. H. Dick, and W. Pryor. An apology was received from Mr R. Chishdlm, aiid the -Rev. Mr Greig was . associated with tho Presbytery in its meeting. ; PBOPOSED CHTJBCH FOB MAOEI HILL. 3L deputation waited upon the Presbytery on ;iihe subject of the- establishment of a : uhurch at Maori Hill, and Mr G. M. Thorn- i Bon,^ speaking on behalf of 'the deputation, '• - said a committee had been chosen from the . • Presbyterian churches in town, and had been round among the householderra of Maori. Hill to ascertain their opinions as to the necessity of a church -for the dis- • trict, in Which they found there were somo ■ 200 persons "belonging to the Presbyterian. •denomination. Many of these had young families, and found it was almost impossible for the younger -.members of their • families to attend a Sunday school of their own Church, and they liad consequently to Bend them elsewhere. At the same time they felt they were failing in their duty in not bringing them up in the Presbyterian religion. Mr Thomson pointed out how" desirable it would b© under these circum- '• stane&s to establish a church in the dis- ' trict. Mr S. N. Brown said they had come to the conclusion that a building capable of seating 250 persons would be a fair beginaring. They did not consider too small a -building should be erected in the first place. With Tegard to the financial aspect j of question, he was not quite aware ■what the grant from the Synod would be", but they had reason to believo -that the residents of Maori Hill, having taken in band the initiation of this movement, would give their hearty support, and there would be very little difficulty in raising the money necessary to build the church. They estimated the cost of such a building as they ■wanted -would be .£SOO, a sum that ehould not be of great moment to a body like 'the Presbytery of Otago. The Rev. Mr Hewitson said the meeting held in connection with the matter was a fairly good one, and consisted largely of persons associated with the churches. The meet--iog was a hearty and pleasant -one, and a committee of Knox Church Session was ap- ' pointed to look into the question of a ! huilding. It was thought that a building | that "would accommodate 250, with a classroom, wonld be suitable, and the question j was. What would be the grant such a congregation would get from the Synod? That was the position. He thought they should thank the deputation for their attendance, thank them for the report they had given ihe Presbytery, and recommend the Synod bo grant so and so. He would move in that direction. I

The Rev. Mr Cameron asked what the estimate of the oost of a building in brick was. Would it be 25 per cent, beyond what was named? One of the deputation replied that it would be more than that. The Moderator suggested they might agree to the first part of Mr Hewitson's motion, and deal with the question of the grant afterwards, and the motion was carried in that form. Mr Hewitson said on tho question of yvood or brick speed was a very great item, in the matter, and he thought wood would meet the case just now, and for many a long day. Mr Cameron moved — " That a small committee be appointed to consider the ques tion of the amount of grant available and the most speedy way of accomplishing the object of establishing a church up there, and this was seconded by the Rev. Mr Dutton. Tho Rev. Mr Eorrie moved as an amendment — "That th© prayer of the deputation bo granted." The Rev. Mr Cameron : Well, add that. The Rev. Mr Borrie : "And that this committee look into the matter." Mr Cameron : Yes. Mr Borrie said £150 would be granted for wood. That was as far as the regulalations would allow them to go as regarded wood. Mr Cameron raid the site had been bought before these regulaiions were brought into force Mr Borrie: Under the old regulations the price of a site is reckoned pert of the total .amount that goes to pay for tho church. The motion proposed by the Rev. Mr Cameron was finally carried in the followingform: "That the prayer be granted, and that a small committee be appointed by the Presbytery to co-operate with the Maori Hill Committee as to the question of building and Synod grant, the committee to consist of the Revs. Cameron, Borrie, Sutherland, and M'Jntyre." The Rev. Mr Hewitson. who moved the names for the committee, 6aid he had not mentioned laymen because laymen constituted the body of the committee. THE CALL TO NOHTH-EAST HAKBOUB. - The Rev. Mr Cameron said, with regard to the call to North-East Harbour, that he did not know he needed to go into details. The committee appointed in the matter had recommended that five candidates should bo heard, but owing to circumstances that had arisen only three were left. A vote on the three candidates had been taken, with the resuli that there was a largo majority in favour of the Rev. Mr Erwin. The total of the votes was a "very good representation of the congregation. The Rev. Mr Greig said there would be no difficulty in the Presbytery going down to North East Harbour to mode-rate in a call. Matters were just as Mr Cameron had stated. Messrs Weir and Matheson also made a few remarks on the subject of the call, after which Mr Cameron moved that the request of the congregation be granted, and that the Presbytery hold a meeting at Portobelio on the 16th inst., at 2 p.m., to moderate- in a call. He was very pleased with the spirit of unity manifested in the district,

which was a very scattered one. He thought it would be a nice thing if Dr ISiisbet would preside and preach. Dr Nisbet excised himself, and, Mr Cameron's motion being carried, Mr E. C. Tennant was appointed to perform theseoffices. THE LATE BEY. J. A. WITJ,. Th© B,ev. Mt Camei'on moved as follows in connection with tin? late Rev. J. A. Will : "The Presbytery desires to place- on record its sense of the gieat loss sustained by the Church through the early death of the Rev J. A. Will, of Lawrence. Mr Will was one of our first students, and completed hio theological course in Edinburgh and Germany. For 20 years he sorvad the Church with untiring industry, nr=;t in the parish of Waiareka and then in Lawrence. By his wise and winsome manner and by his faithful presentation of tlie Gospel in life and word, Mr Will gained for himself a large place in ths affections of tne people, and did much to strengthen the cause of Christ in the parishes in which he laboured. The Church shewed it 1 ! appreciation of the services of Mr Will by calling him last April to be Moderator of Synod. The Presbytery desires to e> press its sj'n'inathy with the widow and her throe sons, also with our revered father, the Rev. William Will, and other members of the family, in their core bereavement, and commends them to the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May He make His face to shine upon them and give them peace." On the motion being carried by the Presbytery standing, it was also Tosolved, on the motion of the Key. Mr Cameron, that a copy of the motion be sent to Mrs Will and the Rev. William Will. THE INTRODUCTION OF LTQUOIi IXTO THE COOK ISLANDS. The Rev. A. M Finlay=on said he had written to the Premier and the member? wbo represented electorates in and around Dunedin on the subject of the introduction of liquor into the Cook group of islands. He had received replies from the Minister in charge of the department and from the other members of the House to whom he had written, and he would read the Minister's reply, which was as follows : — I have to acknowledge ihe receipt of your letter of the 7th inst., conveying the resolution of the Presbytery of Dunedin protesting agah'st +he importation or sale of intoxicating liquor in the Cook Islands except for medicinal purposes I may mention tha.t the la.w at piosent in force in Niue absolutely forbids the sale, barter, or gift of liquor to any native, and while the right of the white population to import liquor for their own use has not bosn rn.teifered with, there is no intention of establishing a hotel of any description on the island. All liquor imported is taken charge of by the Collector of Customs, who issues it to the owners on the orders of the Resident Commissioner in such quantities as I he (the Commissioner) thinks fit. A similar piactice bas been in operation in Rarotonga, all liqtior having been issued, from the Go- j vernnxent bond. An ordinance of the Rarotonga Island Council, however, which is intended to improve on the present custom, has recently received the assent of his Excellency the Governor. It providtes tha.t the importation of liquor into Rarotonga, so far as pnvate ertcrprise is concerned, shall cea.se absolutely, and that in the event of an accomrnodationhcuse being erected liqtior may be sold therein o.i behalf of the Government, natives being

prohibited, as at present, and the piohibition being extended so as to include Chinese, as a precaution against illegal sales. There is no thought of issuing a license in the ordinary acceptation of the term. OClie whole question will be considered in counect/Lon with the petitions now being presented to Parliament against the importation of liquor into the islands, and I shall be glad to let you know what decision is come to. He (Mr Finlayson) did not know that he need read the other letters from Messrs Bedford, Arnold, Millar, Allen, Mackenzie, Sidey,, and Reid. Mr Allen was tho only one who entered somewhat fully into the matter, but all expressed entire sympathy with the- position taken up by the Presbytery. He would, however, read them Mr E. G. Allen's letter, which was as follows: — Wellington, 11th July, 1904. Tho Rev. A. M. Finlaj son, W'aitati. Dear sir, — I am m receipt of your favour of 7th inst. conveying a resohition of the Dunedm Presbytery against the sale of intoxicating liquor in the Cook Islands. The resolution has my sympathy, for I have visitedi those Islands, and cjui realise the evil effects on the | native population that a traffic in strong dxink I would have. I found at the island of Kiue a population (about 5000) that had been taught by the missionaries the evils of drink. There the natives do not want it introduced, but some of the Europeans do. There are only 17 whites on the island. At Earotonga the natives are- not so abstemious. The morals of the people are of a lower order than they are at the other island of the group. The natives have a pernicioiis piactice of making a. strong intoxicant from oranges, and it will be difficult to stop. I was agreeably surprised to find in most of the islands large handsome churches and schoolhouses. built of concrete, and belonging to various denominations. The moral welfare of the natives is well looked aifter by selfsacrificing missionaries, and onre should be tsken to prevent, as far as possible, the importation of alcohol, which would be a stumbling block to their good work. It will always be difficult to prevent smuggling by the munetous small trading vessels. The '■ arm of the law " is weak in the Islands, and excessive drinking 13 rife at Tahiti, Apia, and Fiji — islands owned by the French, Germans, and British respectively. At the Amencan-owned island of Tutuila. importation of liquor is forbidden. Kind regards. — Yours, etc., Edmd. G. Alles. The communications were received. APPOINTMENT OF HOiXE MISSIONABT. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland took the chair in order to allow the Moderator to bring forward the report upon the application by Mr Robertson to do Home Missionary work. — The Moderator said a.ll they kne-w about Mi Robertson was exceedingly favourable. He had been working very earnestly in connection with the Salvation Army for some time, and there j seemed no doubt about his zeal for Christian woik. He was eaorificng a very gr^afc deal in taking the present position. He had been making on an average £8 a week, but would now only get £2 a week. That j was somo indication of the seriousness of j his desire to enter into this work. The report by the committee was that Mr Robertson should be very heartily received as Home Missionary. He (the Moderator) moved — " That Mr Robertson be accepted as Home Missionary in connection with

the Presbyterian Church," and mentioned! that Mr Roberston was about 36 years of age, and had a wife and two children.— The motion was carried. INDIVIDUAL COJOIDNION CUPS. Mr A. Chisholm brought under the notice of the Presbytery a request from the West Taieri Session to be allowed to use individual cups for the communion. One hundred and twenty-six had voted in favour of the change and eight against it, and! those who had voted against it .had to a> •great extent given way. — Request granted. SITES FOR CHUECHES AT BUP.XSIDE AND DEBORAH BAT. The Rev. Mr Kilpatrick said a 6mall committee had been appointed to secure a site for a chuich near the Burnside Cattleyards. The committee had had a look round, and was agreed as to the necessity for securing a site. Since then he h&d been in communication with tho cvmeis of laud, but so far no site had beon purchased, and he would like the ccmmit.ee to continue in office and have power to act. — Agreed to. The Itev. Mr Tennont said he would like the Presbytery to appoint a' small committee to inquire into obtaining a site for a small church at Deborah Bay, He was anxious to get a church to hold 50 or 60 persons. He had managed to get about 40 of the men about the place to go to church, but one nearer at hand would be a great advanta.ge.cr-A committee, consisting of tho Revs. Tennent, Finlayson, and Mr Tait, was set up in the matter. GENERAL. The Rev. Mr Hewitson introduced the; question of having a conference under the auspices of the Presbytery in connection vrith new missions. A committee had been set up by the Missions Committee to look into the matter and draft a programme, and that committee stiggested there should be a conference of the office-bearers in the morning to consider ■various questions, and that they and the Presbytery should lunch together afterwards; also, that there should be an afternoon meeting devoted to women's work, and that they should also meet in the evening from. 7.30 to 9.30. — . It was resolved — '"That the Presbytery devoto two hours at nexz meeting, from 11 to 1 o'clock, for the purpose, and tlufc the other meetings be on subsequent dates." On the motion of the Rev. Mr Kinmonfc