ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 311, 10 April 1868, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not identify ourselves with the opinions that may be expressed by onr correspondents. ] THE REV. DR. COPLAND AND THE CHURCH AT CROMWELL, (To TIIF. EMTOR OF THE DfSSTAK TuiF?.) Sir—l observe inthe letterofyourCromwel correspondent, in your issue of 20th inst., a complaint that, while Alexandra and Clyde are to be supplied with the regular ministrations of the Rev. Mr Ross, the Crom well district has been left unprovided for. There is in tie letter a slight misapprehension of the facts of the case, which I would beg leave toreetify. (The preliminary steps have been taken for formally settling Mr. Ross as minister of the congregations of Alexandra and Clyde and the other steps required by the laws of the church will, n<> doubt be soon accomplished.) Although Crom has been left out of his parish,this has been from no slight to Cromwell, but simply from the fact that it could not be efficiently over taken in addition toth'e otVr workassigned him. At the same time, it ought to be memtioned, that Mr Ross, during the time he bas already laboured in the district, Ire has, exerted him-self to a most praiseworthy degree, sparing neither troublenor expense to overtake the numerous at present destitute of public religious ordinances, and has given to Crora well at the least, considering distance and expense, a fair chare of his labor,

and-so long as Cromwell remains without a minister of its own will probably eon. tinue his visits as hitherto. It is, however, perfectly evident that to hold service ouee every four or five weeks in Cromwell and the Gorge, which is the very utmost that could be expected of Mr Ross is quite insufficient to meet the spiretual wants of the distriet.and I trust that the residents in that quitter will take measures to secure the settlement of a minister among themselves. They have already formed a church committee, and if that committee canvas the district and ascertain the desire of its inhabitants to obtain regular services every Lord's day, draw out a subscription list, with the amount which each is willing to contribute for the support of such services. and send a petition to theClntha Presbytery, signed by the residents and accompanied by ■"he subscrption list I have no doubt that the Presbytery will make every effort to supply the want of the district (It may, perhaps, be necessary to explain to some that the Presbytery church possesses no endowments for the support of her ministers and receives no assistance from Government the ministers being all supported by voluntary contributions of the church. The revenue whieli the church derives from certain properties which it holds in trust, are applied t wards the building of manses, £'2JO being contributed to each. ( I would also take the liberty of stating that I expect to ho in the i'is triut in the course of ten days and should the inhabitants be really desirous of odtaining a resident minister I shall be most hap" py to afford every direction and assistance in my power. I remain etc. JAMES COPLAND The Manse Tuapeka '27 th March 1861