PEESBYTEEY OF SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 979, 3 July 1868, Page 6

PEESBYTEEY OF SOUTHLAND.

The usual quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Southland was held in the vestry of the Presbyterian Church, on Wednesday, the 24th inst. The following members were present: — Rev. Andrew Stevens (Moderator), A. H. Stobo, and Thomas Alexander, ministers, and Messrs Duncan M'Arthur and Dugald M'Phee, elders. Mr Stobo reported that he had received two applications for the office of Colporteur, and laid on the table testimonials in favour of the applicant's. The Presbytery having considered the same resolved to delay the appointment in the meantime, and instruct Mr Stobo to advertise in a Dunedin paper, and appoint the Moderator, Mr Stobo, and Mr M'Arthur a committee with power to make the appointment, if satisfied, and send home for the requisite books— Mr Stobo convener;

A letter was read from Bevd. James Martin, applying to be received as a labourer in connection with the Presbytery, and enclosing a letter from the Bevd. George Sutherland, Dunedin, to the effect that Mr Martin's certificates and papers -had been received as satisfactory by Dunedin Presbytery. It was resolved to receive Mr Martin, and appoint him for three months to Queenstown. Mr Stobo reported that Mr Martin had arrived and had been introduced by him to the Mataura district, but that his health having failed he had been sent to Queenstown, and that Mataura was now vacant. The Presbytery agreed to appoint Mr M'Gillivray for three months to Mataura, and in the event of his declining to go on the arrangements already made, that the : Church Extension Committee be requested to send another preacher without delay. Mr Stobo reported that Mr Alexander and himself had agreed to recommend that the Lower Mataura Station should include Seaward Downs and Oteramika bushes on its western border> and Hokanui and Switzer's diggings to the North. Mr M* Arthur, as convener of the Committee, on Sabbath observance, reported that in consequence of the discontinuance of the Sabbath traffic complained of on the part of the ordinary steamers at the Bluff, the Committee had not thought it necessary to prepare any memorial. It was agreed to continue the Committee, with instructions to watch over matters affecting Sabbath observance generally, and to report. The Presbytery adjourned to meet at Invercargill on the "Wednesday after the first Sabbath of October next. '