PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 659, 19 April 1867, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHLAND.

The Presbytery of Southland held its quarterly meeting on the lOfch inst., There were present, the revs, James Clark (Moderator,) Andrew H. Stobo, Thomas Alexander, Andrew Stevens, ministers ; Messrs Thomas Watson and - William Jonstone,^ elders. . After, the minutes of last meeting were read, Mr Alexander Was elected moderator for the ensuing year. The clerk read a letter from the Committee of the Presbyterian : Church, Queenstown, asking the Presbytery to. give them the trial of another minister after Mr Telford's term of three months expired. The JPresbytery instructed the Clerk to communicate with the Eev.' Mr M. Gallo wajr to ascertain whether he will place himself at the disposal of this; Presbytery , to; labour at Queenstown for three, months ; and, in ■ the event of his declining, to request the.. Church Extension Committe to continue Mr Telford for three months longer, Mr Alexander reported that he had visited the / "Mataura District. He states that the isettlers there wished that .a. minister; ; should be got from home to labor among them. He also stated that they had £80 on hand to pay a minister's passage.- The clerk was instructed to write tp : MrM'Nab and inform him that this Presbytery has sent, through the Church Extension Committe, for a minister f or : the . Mataura District. The following returns were given in :— Numher of members in Invercargill ... 329 „ ,', Seatholders- „ —.. 347 „ „ Elders „ ... 8 „ . „ Deacons „ • ... 7 „ „ Sabbath Scholars,, „.. 80 „ „ Sabbath School Teachers... U Number of members in Riyerton ... 105 \ „ „ Seatholders . . ,, ... 61 „ „ Eldera ' „ ... J> '_ „ *„" Deacons' '■"•"' -' „ ... 3 "**■*■ „ „ Sabbath Scholars,, ... 70 „ „ Sabbath School Teachers ... 9 Number of Members at Long Bush ... 70 „ j, Elders „ ... 3 The clerk reported that a memorial was sent to the Superintendent, through the Provincial Secretary, against running and Invercargill Eailway. No reply to the memorial has been received, Mr Johnstone gave in a report as to the laws that exist bearing on Sabbath desecration. The report sets forth that there exist laws prohibiting waggoners from travelling, driving of cattle, or killing them, and shooting on Sabbath. Messrs Stobo, Johnstone, and Watson, were appointed toi wait on the proper authorities, with a view to get the laws against Sabbath desecration enforced/ The Presbytery agreed in terms of model trust deed to the following regulations : — ■ " That the Church shall be wholly at the disposal of the Minister 'for fall feligious purposes. The consent of the Deacons' Court, as well as of the Minister, shall be necessary before any meeting, not strictly of a religious, ecclesiastical, or charitable nature, can be held iri it. In congregations where no Deacons' Court exist, the consent of the session shall be necessary ; and when there is neither a Deacons' Court nor a Session, the Minister shall have the sole disposal of it." The Presbytery adjourned to meet at Inver? cargill on Wednesday, 26th June, next.