PRESBYTERY OF CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 675, 22 July 1870, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF CANTERBURY.

■■ ♦ . The Presbytery met on Wednesday last at i St. Andrew's Church. A petition was prei sen ted from the Revs. John Gow, Joshua i M'lntosh, and R. J. Sutherland, praying the i Presbytery to forward and support their petition to the Venerable the General Assembly i that a Preßbytery of Westland ba formed, i Mr Fraser, the Clerk of Presbytery, cordially i supported the petition on the ground of the ; great inconvenience to which the members • resident in Westland might be put in having to attend often at Uhristchurch. . He thought that the Presbytery should appoint its representatives for next General Assembly from Westland, in order that they might appear in ' Bupport of this petition. He moved that the petition be forwarded to the Assembly with the strong recommendation of the Court. This was unanimously agreed to. i The Rev John Campbell, of Lincoln and Prebbleton, then came forward and tendered his resignation of his ministerial charge. He stated that he had accepted the appointment of Head Master of the Higli School, a position which he believed to be quite as influential aa that which he at present occupied. He

had experienced great satisfaction in his labours among bis people, and in seeing their efforts to extend the church. There were now five places of worship erected and a com* fortable manse. He had felt a delicacy in making further appeals to the liberality of his people while these buildings were going on; bat, at the same time, he could not continue the steady drain upon his private means which the circumstances required. His stipend for the last four years and a half had ranged from £130 to £160 per annum. Besides this difficulty, he felt that the work was altogether too much for him. He had to officiate in each of the fire churches once a fortnight, while the distances were consider-^ able, and the state of the roads and of the river Selwyn were often a considerable barrier. The district would require to be divided into two parishes, and he believed that his resignation would facilitate this arrangement, . and in this way would promote the interests of the church. He asked the assistance of - the Presbytery in obtaining the balance of stipend owing to him for the current term. Eev C. Fhaser thought the Presbytery had only one course open to it, which was to take the proper steps for receiving the resignation ; and he accordingly moved that one of their number be appointed to preach at Lincoln at a convenient date, and summon - the church members to bring forward, at a given time and place, any objections they might have against the resignation of Mr Campbell, with certification that, unless these were brought forward and established! Mr Campbell would be released from his pastoral ■:. charge. Mr Campbell acted with much liberality in asking for no arrears beyond I those of the last twelve months, and he hoped the Presbytery would support his claim to the balance due of £200 for that period. He (Mr Eraser) had every confidence in the desire of the people to secure a permanent - ministry among t hem, and was sure that the Presbytery would aid them in their efforts. Mr Fraser's motion was agreed to. A letter was read from the Rev W. Hogg, I stating the reasons for his absence from the Presbytery, in the sufficiency of which the members fully concurred. It was stated by the Moderator of the Kirk Sessions of St. John's, Lyttelton, and St. Paul's, Christchurch, that an arrange* ment had been made with the Rev W. Maogowan, from Wellington to supply these congregations for some months. The Preßbytery approved of and confirmed the agreement entered into. After some routine business, the Presbytery? was closed by the pronouncing of the apos-. tolio benediction.