WANGANUI PRESBYTERY

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4414, 13 February 1930, Page 2

WANGANUI PRESBYTERY

DISC!LESION ON FOXTON AND

SHANNON CHARGES

•COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE AND REPORT.

The bi-monthly meeting of the Wanganui Presbytery was held in Marlon on Tuesday. There was a large and representative gathering <>i ministers, elders, and home missionaries present. Pcv. Raeburn McDonald, Moderator of the Presbytery, presided.

HOME MISSION REPORTS. Foxton. —A report was handed in by Mr. W. FI. Nicholas, stating that the charge was as prosperous as it could he under the circumstances. Spiritually thing’s 'were very prosperous. The Sunday school was full; three Bible classes had been established; and the services were well supported. There were about 00 families, but the communion roll was only 35, and the charge was really too small to stand alone. The town was not progressing as the llax industry laid not been a growing one. The charge was so small that.it did not merit a grant. The solution must he one of enlarging the territory. The Ssth anniversary would soou be held when it was hoped to wipe off the iinacial liabilities to the Assembly. Before the discussion on the matter took place, the report from Shannon was called for. This was handed in by Mr. Williamson, who reported that the slump in the llax industry had affected the work very materially, also the lack of proper means of transport had been a most serious handicap. In many instances he had to walk long distances or depend upon a friendly lift by the way. The committee at Shannon" was very sympathetic, hut the trouble was a financial one. A .canvass had been made with an encouraging result so far. The attendance at the Sunday school and Bible class had been well maintained, aud the communion services had been well attended. Rev. U. T. Brown, M.A., as Moderator of both these districts, pointed out that the presbytery some years ago luid been misled into sanctioning a separation between Foxton and its outfields which were now incorporated in the Palmerston North outfields. It was not tlie presbytery's fault, as in that action they had done the only thing that, seemed possible at the time. Since then Mr. Nicholas bail made a heroic effort to make the work at Foxton self-supporting, hut the thing seemed impossible. '1 here was not the territory to work on. No man could have made a better effort. They had been struggling along, paying their way by increasing their indebtedness to the General Assembly. Now there came before the presbytery a report from Shannon indicating” a problem not quite identical, hut similar, in that it revealed a declining district, and therefore an increasing financial problem. Recently these districts became closer neighbours geographically through the restoring of the bridge aud the resurfacing of the road. . Would it not be the wiser solution of these two stations if they could be amalgamated to form one decent fully sanctioned charge 1 ? He moved that a committee he set up to investigate this possibility. Rev. D- Metvor, spoke in support of such a committee. Rev. R. IL Catherwood paid a glowing tribute to the splendid efforts being put forth by Mr. Nicholas in the district. Mr. Brown was asked to nominate a committee to go into the matter. Rev. G. King asked that the whole question of boundaries be taken - into consideration. He was strongly of opinion that the presbytery should decide what was the best thing to be done and that the various charges should be informed of the presbytery’s decision. Rev. D. Mdvor thought that no definite decision should, he made without first consulting the various centres. It was important to carry the consent aud will of the people with the presbytery in any action they took. The motion was carried. The committee elected was Revs. D. Mdvor, Raeburn McDonald and G. T. Brown [convener) with their reinle^eptafivfi' '-{Mr. Stewart moved that a grant of £25 be allowed to Shannon. Rev. G. King moved as an amendment that the grant lie matte £SO. iOterTT discussion the amendment was carried. When it became a substantive motion Rev. G. T. Brown moved as a further amendment that the matter be deferred until the appointed committee had investigated the position. This was seconded by Rev. R. H. Catherwood and supported by Rev. D. MelVok. On the motion being "put, 'tile iiniCii’dment uas carried! "