THE AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 624, 11 January 1872, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY

The usual quarterly meeting of this reverend court was held yesterday in St Andrew's church. Present: Eov Messrs T Norrie, Moderator (in the chair), E F Hill, D F Mackenzie Eldora—Messrs A Dingwall, J V Stephensou, R Somervillo, D Philp, and Thompson. The reading of a portion of the Holy Scriptures, and a prayer constituted the sederunt, after which the minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed.

The following Eldera presented their commissions to represent the respective congregations at the sittings of the Presbytery during the present year,which were accepted : —Mr Alexander Dingwall, St Andrew's congregation; Mr James V Stephenson, St James congregation; Mr David j Phi lp, Thames congregation; and Mr X Somerville, North Shore congregation. The Rev D F Mackenzie explained to the Presbytery his conduct in reference to the North Shore church. After considerable discussion a motion "was put by Mr Hill,"That underthecircumstancesMr Mackenzie's explanations be received as sufficient, but the -Presybtery enjoin that members will in future adhere to the usual forms of our church." This was seconded by Mr Dingwall, and after some further debate, carried.

Reports of collections were handed in and commented upon, and on the motion of Mr Stephenson, seconded by Mr Thompson, it was resolved, "That cards should be printed and placed in the various churches, setting forth the collections authorised to be made by the Presbytery and the General Assembly.

Mr Cosh intimated his intention of leaving Auckland for Hokitika before the end of the week, and the question of supply for St Andrew's church was discussed. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs MacNicol, McKenzie, and Dingwall, was appointed to make arrangements for supplying the pulpit, until the return of Mr Bruce, who was expected to arrive in about three weeks.

On the question of supply to Coromandcl, the necessity of pulpit ministration in that district was discussed, and the wish of the Presbytery that Mr Hill should attend to its wants, as far as lay in his power until a permanent minister could be appointed, was embodied in a resolution and carried.

Mr Hill called attention to the erection of a church at Tararu which would be opened in about a month.

Eeferring to Mr. Brucc'smission.a letter had been received from Mr. Shepherd, of liawkes Bay, and the Chairman stated that he did not know whether the commission from the General Assembly for Mr. Bruce to act as the representative for Hawkos Bay district in the courts of tho Church at home had been given to him, although he was aware that such appointment had taken place. This concluded the business, and the meeting closed with prayer.

A Frenchman has been killed on the sands at Boulogne-sur-Mer, in the presence ef many hundred spectators. He was a man of extraordinary strength, named Vigneron, agacl 45, and was known in most parts of Europe for his feats of strength, and particularly for lijting a cannon weighing 6001b. upou his shoulders and firing a full charge of gunpowder. He went through this performance on the sand with his usual success, but whilo in the act of lifting the cannon to lower it he slipped and fell. The whole weight of tho cannon fell on the face of the unfortunate man, splitting his skull completely in two. Death, of course, was instantaneous.