PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5487, 12 February 1896, Page 1

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

■. m . ' [Per Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. The annual session of the Presbyterian Assembly of New Zealand opened to-night. A large number of representatives were • present. The Eev William Watt, of Tanna | (New Hebrides) was elected Moderator. In | his address he referred to his missionary i devotions in the group for twenty-seven years, ahd said that he hoped stUl to be permitted to labour in that sphere. He accepted election, as Moderator as a tribute to the missionary spirit of thechurch and to the unflinching steadfastness of purpose whichhe thought he might without egotism claim to have manifested. He claimed that missionary work had been successful, but thought that perhaps missionaries often injured their own cause by inferring, to - their own converts as if , they yreve perfect paragons. After glancing at the results of missionary efforts in America, Africa and India, the Moderator went on io Bpeak of his . own special field of . work in the !New Hebrides, - and, to sum up, said that the wars so common in the . islands, were now ; unknown, and that cases of murder, seldom if eVer occurred. He also referred to the generous treatment now extended by the natives in the group to shipwrecked crews compared with that existing in former days. A further result of missionary life, was that the natives now built their schools and churches and accepted Religious instruction. ■;"•'