SCENE AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 2688, 4 May 1885, Page 2

SCENE AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

As our readers and the public are no doubt aware from the large amount of correspondence which has lately appeared in this journal on the subject, there has been dissension in the congregation of the Presbyterian Church here consequent on the actions of the new minister, the Rev. George Hay. The complaints were laid before the Westland Presbytery on the 17th December, when the “ Rev. George Hay intimated to the court his intention to resign the charge of Kumara church within three months, and on this the committee sisted further proceedings.” Mr Hay did resign, but before the subsequent and last meeting of Presbytery, held late in March or early in April, he withdrew his resignation. The resignation, however, bein" withheld or not being before the Presbytery, that body resolved to accept Mr Hay’s resignation and give him another month to vacate the charge, and appointed the Rev. B. J. West-

brooke, of Greymouth, to conduct service at the Presbyterian Church here yesterday, morning and evening, and at Stafford in the afternoon, and declare the Kumara charge vacant. Mr Hay’s supporters, who are said to be in the proportion of 4 or 5 to 1 of the other members of the congregation had possession of the key of the church, and on Mr Westbrooke attempting to enter the church yesterday morning to preach, as announced, he was told he would not be allowed to do so. He then essayed to read an edict on the door-step of the church, but was gently pushed off along the precincts to the street. An attempt was made on Saturday night by a man named Garvin, of the smaller party, to gain admission to the church by a trapdoor underneath the church, but this door the possessors had taken the precaution to batten down. It was a moonlight night, and the man was found underneath the building, dragged out, and led off and kicked away. The affairs are likely to result in recourse being had to law. At present Mr Hay’s supporters hold the building. No attempt was made to repeat the process last evening, and the Rev. Mr Westbrooke, by invitation, preached in the Wesleyan Church opposite. The Presbyterian Church owes Mr Hay £73 6s stipend.