PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 577, 15 November 1871, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NORTH SHORE.

PRESENTATION OF A TESiTMONUI

TO MR. J4O&ERT SOMME it VILLA Last evening a large and influential ineetiq of the Presbyterians resident at the TSoi Shore was held in the church, for the purput of nominating elders and a finance couiniit'tftl The meeting commenced at-half-past sere, I the J&ev. Peter McßLeuzie presiding, %m following gentlemen -were uotniuate.l eicfe,! subject to the approval of Jbbe^^coflgjiwejttr bsc-S°' vtftTcr 'sir. James McEwan. Mr.Botei" Sommerville declined to accept nomination,! A3 he mij<ht not loug reside ainong3t tiual Messrs.jjW. Buchanan, Andrew Gbldie, ail Malcolm Niccol were then uomiualed ait Finance Committee. This being all thefona? business, Mr. Henry Niceol rose and ai, he had been requested iby the members {'' the Church to testify thoir appreciates of the valuable and generous serrices wK4 they had received as a congregation from 1 I Sommerville. During the year and a halftbi I had been without a stated minister, tk i gentleman had gratuitously performed k I duties of a pastor in a very earnest ani faittS I manner. In that interval they had ba enabled to pay off the debt upon that buildq'5 a work which had been materially aide lij the liberal contributions of Mr. Sommenii^ and Mr. Croiubie. He had to request It,1 Somtv.crville's acceptance of a gold wad, , which had been readily subscribed for bj h 1 congregation, and bore an inscription a pressive of the gratitude of the donors totte friend. He hoped Mr. Somiaerrille wfi long lira to ""wear it, and that when he M them ifc might recall pleasing association^ his residence amongst them.—Air. Sommeni expressed his most cordial thanks, and if cepted their handsome gift in the spiß in which it was presented. He coii however, not have accepted ifc if be bi thought it would have interfered with ti support of their esteemed pastor, or in oj way tended lo diminish (he stipend whichfe '" so -well deserved. Beiiag assured, homw, that their exertions to this end would inK way be relaxed by this liberal testimonial ft himself', he! begged them to accept bis mi sincere thanks for their gift. The proceeds? Llien tertuiimted.—The watch and chain « of the most elegaut make, and the most Tab able that could be procured hi Auckland. » bears the following inscription, whichj* been very chastely engraved upon the in* case :—".Presented to R. Souiua,erville, % by the North Shore Presbyterian congregate in appreciation of his kind and gratuit«a • services dui'iiig.the eighteen months thejweS without a stated minister. —Auckland, Not-.-1871."