WESTLAND PRESBYTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1928, Page 1

WESTLAND PRESBYTERY

. The half-yearly meeting of the Westland Presbytery was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Hokitika on Tuesday, sSept. 18th. There were present,: Revs. J. W. Hayward (Moderator), A. Miller (Clerk), T. N. Cuttle (Ministers), and T. E. Dibbs, J. Webb, G. Hall and S. S. Heyward (Home Missionaries)! Apologies were received for the absence of Mr W. FoUey (Hokitika) and Mr Brown (Greymoutji). Encouraging reports were received from some of tlie out stations—From Denniston, where much success is being realised under the labours of Mr A. Eotheriiigham; from Granity and from Greymouth, where there is evidence of progress. The Presbytery commended the Minister, office-bear-ers and members of Reefton Charge for faithfulness and loyalty shown under trying conditions and expressed the hope that a time of greater prosperity was in store both for the Church and the community/ The Rev. Dr Dickie was nominated for the Principalship of the Theological College, and the Rev. Bruce Todd for the position of Moderator for 1929. A large number of remits froln tho General Assembly were considered.

The remit to alter the regulations to permit women to become elders was disapproved, and the Peace Manifesto that has raised such fierce controversy, was approved in general, with the. recommendation that its language should be altered as to bring it into line frith the Church’s Confession of Faith—“that war may be waged on just aiid necessary occasions.’ 1 The nevs. Miller and Cuttle were appointed Ministerial delegates to the General Assembly to meet in Auckland, and elders to.be sent from Hokitika and lteefton. Report was mad© that a new Church had been built at Totara Flat at a cost of £220, and opened free of debt. Permission was granted to the managers of St. John’s Church, Greymouth, to borrow £2OOO in connection with their building scheme. It was resolved to meet at Westport in April (Easter week). The Modelrator molted vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Rev Dr Gray Dixon, who had been well-known to members of tho Presbytery, and who bad given the Church such distinguished service.

During the day tho members, with their wives, were entertained at tho manse, and tho Rev. G. B. Hall expressed thanks to Mrs Hayward for tho hospitality extended. A photograph of the Presbytery was taken for the “History of Presbyterianism in New Zealand,’’ which is in course of preparation.