DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 3765, 18 March 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

At the meeting of this body, yesterday, there A/nrvr P r f sent , the Moderator (the Rev. Mr M Naughton) in the chair, and the following ministers: Revs. Dr Stuart and Copland! Revs. Blake, Russell, Sutherland, Watt. Gow Mackie, Johnston, and Gillies. Elders: Messra Borne, King and W. D. Stewart. The Rev. PalmerSton ’ associated *dth The Clerk (the Rev. Mr Gillies) reported the receipt of a communication from the RegistrarGeneral, who, writing on the subject of registration of deaths, said—“ There appears to be a misapprehension of the meaning of the Act in the minds of the Presbytery of Dunedin, to which misapprehension I attribute the objections raised to complying with the Act. You will observe that the term ‘ give notice’ is used rh* h £<f mid Bec . fcl °u of the Act, not‘register.’ The difference m the terms makes all the difference to the minister, for whereas the representation involves a personal attendance at the Registrars office, and the signature iu the registering book, the notice merely involves a written notification that on such a day he buried a certain person of the name of - who died in such a place. This may be forwarded by post or otherwise, and merely involves writing a few lines. The object of such notice is to inform the registrar that he may either call upon the responsible person to register, or take such ulterior proceedings as the Act requires. I trust under this circumstance the objection raised by the Presbytery in complying with the Act will no longer be entertained, as the neglect in giving such notices may not only prevent the death being registered, but may also necessitate proceedings against the minister so neglecting to comply with the Act. Permit me to observe that it appears to me to be quite in the power of ministers to avoid all responsibility on the subject, the person who gives them notice of their attendance being required to solemnise a funeral service to produce or procure a certificate of registration of death before they consent to_ attend the service, except in such cases where it was not possible to register the death prior to burial. 1 agree with your suggestion as to trustees of cemeteries forbidding burials before registration. The trustees of the Dunedin Cemetery have notified to me that they have not the power to act in that manner as requested, and there is no present legislation in that direction. All that can be done is to endeavor to enforce the law as it at present exists. In the event of any alteration of the existing Acts, I will lay your recommendation before the Government.” Considerable discussion followed the reading of this letter, and it was pointed out that the Act was no new thing, it having been passed in 1858; but it was now being enforced for the first time. Mx Gillies, writing to the Registrar General, toldhimlthat none of the Presbyterian ministers ever complied with the Act in this respect, nor was it likely that any of them would ever do so. Dr Copland thought they would find sufficient vindication in the wording of the Act, which only referred to those who performed religious services for the burial of the dead. fService for the burial of the dead was usually performed by the undertakers. The clerk was directed to acknowledge the receipt the , 9P“H on of too Presbytery being that they should follow the same course as hitherto.

The question whether the call from the congation of Timaru to the Rev. Mr Gillies, of Weat Taien, should be placed in the hands of that reverend gentleman was the next business, ihe call was signed by fifty-one members, and concurred in by eighty-five adherents. It was unanimous. The Rev. Mr Fraser (of Christchurch, and Moderator of the Timaru congregation), and Messrs Granger, Clark, and J. Chisholm represented the Timaru congregassrs Chisholm, G. Buchanan, and vv. G. Wallace represented the Taieri congregation, and stated reasons against the removal of their pastor, The Rev. J, M. Sutherland read the resolution adopted at a meeting of the Taieri

congregation objecting to the proposed translation, cn the grounds that the Tlmaru congrega* tion stated no reason why the translation was sought; that West Taien earnestly desired to retain the Rev. Mr Gillies; the fear their congregation would become disorganised if the charge were left vacant; and Mr Gillies’s great value as a member of the Ohuroh Courts. After Mr Gillies decided to accept the call, the Rev. Dr Stuart and the Moderator expressed their regret at Mr Gillies’s decision, saying that his leaving the Province would be a great loss to the Church here.—Mr GILLIBS, in accepting the call, said he was not in the slightest degree amenable to the opinion that had been expressed by the West Taieri congregation. Were be to consult his own feelings he would have declined the call. But, having looked at the matter very carefully, he had come to the conclusion that he would be of greater assistance to Christ’s cause at Timaru, and on that ground alone had deemed it his duty to accept the «aIL It was with very great regret that he parted from his congregation at West Taieri.