CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12688, 9 July 1919, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Christchurch Presbytery met at • St Paul’s Schoolroom this morning, • there being present—-Revs J. Paterson (moderator pro tern.), Dr .Erwin, R. M; Ryburn, J. S. Reid. J. E. Brown, J. D. Webster, J. O. Patterson, W. T... Todd. J. Johnston, D. D. Rodger, W. H. Howes, N. 0. White, A. D. Kirkland, J. Dickson,’ N. M’Oallum and G. ’ Lindsay, and Messrs J. Tulloch. J. H. 0. Bush, W. Robinson, James Reid, R. J. Corbett, G. T. Robertson 'and J.. - ; Sutherland. :

The moderator extended a welcome. to the Rev J. D. Webster, who had been appointed to the charge of St’ • David’s Church, Sydenham, since the" last meeting of the Presbytery. - The Rev R. M. Ryburn moved that the Presbytery should extend its sympathy to the family of the late Mr J. W M’Leod, a member of St Andrew’s con- ;

gregation. The motion was carried,' , the members standing. Letters were received from the General . ■ Assembly and the Chaplains’ Commit- - . tee, agreeing to make a grant of £3O gs| each towards the stipend! of Mr W, H. JH Norton, the home missionary at Han- ISB

raer. The clerk reported that Mi Norton had commenced his duties onlffl June 26, Htmraer was novr in s MF satisfactory position. The Homei Mission Committee of the . General Assembly reported that the donor of the grant for a special agent for the central ridge of the South' Island had paid over the first instalment .

of £l5O for the purpose, and the Church was thus committed to thaw ' project. The scope of the work was contained in a letter from the donor to Dr Gibh, which stated that with the object of establishing a system of religious services at intervals in the remote and sparsely populated

districts of the South Maud; of- New Zealand he offered the sum of £450 to the Presbyterian Church of New , Zealand for the purpose of appointing a duly qualified man to itinerate along the*backbone ridge'of the South Island,-

and convey the Gospel to the miners in their camps, the shepherds in their huts, the pioneer farmers in their lonely homes in the backbloeks, and all , ? ■ others who were too far removed from established places of worship. It was suggested that the presbyteries of Dun- ‘ ; stan and Westland should be consulted in regard to the matter. ' ■ It was decided that the Revs J.' Pa-' . - tersou and W. H. Howes and Mr J. .- Frame should he appointed a sub-com- -J_ mittee to consider the question of finance in connection with the matter^