DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 23

DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

A meeting of the Dunstan Presbytery was hold at Pembroke on Tuesday last { the Rev. H. Bloomfield (Moderator) presiding. The Clerk read an apology from the Rev. L. N. Walker, who was absent through ill* ness, and detailed the alterations he ha 4 made in the arrangements for the induction of the Rev. John Ryley. The Rev. A, V. G-. Chandler preached from Gal. vi, 14 j the Rev. W. P. Rankin read the prescribed questions (which were satisfactorily answered) and declared the Rev. John Ryley duly inducted into the Wanaka charge,- the members of Presbytery giving him the right hand oJE fellowship. The Rev. J. Standring then addressed the minister, and the Rev. H. Bloomfield the' congregation. The. memV bers of Presbytery having re-aEsembled in th. 3 vestry, Mr Ryley signed the formula in tha Presbytery minute book, the clerk calling attention to a remarkable coincident* that the first minutes of the Dunstan Presbytery (1881) were endorsed by Mr Ryley, then Moderator of the Synod of Otago and Southland. Mr Ryley was welcomed by tha members of Presbytery as he took his seat in Presbytery. ■ v ' The report of the commission to the Ida Valley Home Mission charge was presented by the Rev. J. Standring, which showed, that the' office-bearers considered that they were unable to implement the S.F. requirements, and did not desire an amalgamation with v the Lauder .charge. The report received, the Interim Moderator of the Ida Valley Home Mission station read letter* from Rev. A. B. Todd, of the Home Missions Committee, and Mir El. Swinerd, of Colac Bay, and the appointment of Mr Swinerd to Ida Valley was agreed to. The Rev. J. Standring and the Rev. HV Bloomfield were appointed to carry out tha postponed visitation to the Lauder charge. An application for a grant for a new church! at Tarras was presented together with plana and specifications and estimated cost. : . On the motion of Rev. W. P. Rankin, seconded by tha Rev. J. Standring, it was agreed to. approve of the plans and specifications, and heartily reoommend the application for tha grant in terms of' regulation. An application for a special grant of £23o' for the v Wanaka manse was received, and tha Moderator, clerk, ' and the Rev. J. Standring were appointed a commission to inspect thj Wanaka manse and make a recommendation to Synod. A remit with regard to the Foreign Missionary Conference was discussed, and _tho resolution passed at last Presbytery meeting was reaffirmed. On the motion of the Rev. W. P. Rankin, seconded by the Rev. J. Standring, it was decided that owing to the geographical difficulties it wias impossible to hold a Pres byterial Conference. The General Assembly remit concerning the Sustentation Fund was read, and it was decided to request the Wanaka charge to raise the sum of £2OO per annum, so that their minister might participate in the equal dividend.

The minimum for the Lauder charge waa left with the commissioners appointed. The Interim Moderator of" the" Patearoa charge asked direction concerning' the future of that charge, and it- was decided to make no Home Missionary appointment, but to leave, it as a sanctioned chtrge, assessed- at the minimum. of £2OO. The Interim Moderator of Mount Ida charge reported concerning the steps being taken to fiill the vacancy. —Received. On the motion of the Rev. W. P. Rankin, seconded by the Rev. J. Standring, it was agreed to assess charges and home mission stations at £1 15s for presbyteriai expenses for the present year, and the clerk. was instructed to send out the accounts during th» present month. •"'";;, The remit from, the General Assembly" ahent the junior communicants' roll was discussed, and, as it was sent down to presbyteries under the Barrier Act, on the motion of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler, seconded by the Rev. W. P. Rankin, it was unanimously decided to t pprove of the matter.