PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 September 1868, Page 3

PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA.

This Presbytery met in Lawrence Church on Wednesday, the 16th inst., when the following members attended :—: — Rev. Mr. Waters, Moderator,- Rev. Messrs. Todd, Uric, Allan, Copland, Ross, and Telford ; and Messr3. Stenhouse (Lawrence), Adan (Tokomairiro), and M'Neil (Balclutha), elders. The minutes of the meeting held on June 17 were read, and after 9ome discussion it was agreed that the portion relating to the reports of Committee for examining records be not approved of, and that the examination of records in December next embrace the period to whjfch said reports referred, and that the reports to ba then given into the Presbytery be fully written out. The minutes of the pro re nata meeting of the 29th July, and of the meeting held on the 13th August were read and approved: ALEXANDRA AXD CLYDE. On the report of* Dr. Copland, for the committee appointed", the Alexandra and Clyde congregations' m'anae wa3 certified for the usual grant.— Approved. PROFESSORSHIP OP pa'TLOSOPHY. Dr. Copland withdrew h.'s notice of overture to the Synod in rafere.^ o6 to th* 3 matter, as he understood it was P-oyr unnecessary. BALCLUTHA AND LOVELI's FLAT. The deputation appointed to visit Balclutha and Lovell's Flat reported that the Balclntha congregation agreed to the advisability of working along with Lo veil's Flat in the meantime. — This was approved. An extract minute of the Church Extension Committee wa3 read regarding Balclutha, and the Presbytery agreed to recommend that congregation to come to an arrangement with the Rev. Mr. DickBon for the continuance of his services, and also to apply to the Sustentation Fund Committee for repayment of the money paid into them by mistake. POPOTUNOA. An extract minute of the Church Extension Committee was read, in which the Committee expressed their willingness to supply Popotunoa, if a fair proportion of the necessary funds were supplied in the district. The Rev. Messrs Bannerman and Todd, it was reported, had preached in the above place, and the Rev. Mr. Uric had only been prevented by the accidental delay of the notice sent him. The Presbytery appointed the Rev. Messrs. Kirkland, Dickson, and Allan to preach severally on the last Sundays of September, October, ?nd November, provided a preacher was not appointed before those dates. It was further agreed to inform the Church Extension Committee that £120 per annum could be raised in the district, and also to press the Committee for a preacher as soon as possible. EXAMINATION OF STUDENTS. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Waters, that these be conducted in writing, not to the exclusion, however, of oral examination. The Committee in charge of Mr. Stevens' studies were instructed to prepare questions and submit J them to the next meeting. CROMWELL. Dr. Copland laid on the table a memorial from the inhabi ants of Cromwell which had arrived too late for last meeting, praying the Presbytery to appoint a probationer to their district for three months, and offering to guarantee a salary of £50 for tha.t time. Mr. Ross stated that he had received a communication from the secretary of the local committee stating that subscriptions to the amount 'of nearly £300 per annum had been guaranteed. Dr. Copland commented on the necessity for a preaching station in so populous and prosperous a district, and moved, " That the Presbytery express their gratification at receiving this request, declare the Cromwell district a preaching station in connection | with this Presbytery, and appoint the Rev Mr. Ross, of Alexandra and Clyde, to take the ministerial oversight of it. BALCLUTHA. Mr. M'Neil laid on the table plans and specifications of a manse at Balclutha, to cost about £GOO. It was agreed to defor consideration of these till next meeting. WAIHOLA. Mr. Todd, in the/name of the committee appointed, laid, on the table plans and SpecinoatioSs of a manse at the above place, which received the approval of the Presbytery. • ' VISIT OP TIIE '* DAYSPRINO." Dr. Copland road a letter from Dr. Burns, Dunedin, stating that the New Hebrides mission ship " Dayapring" would visit this Province in Jantmry, and that the RoV. Mr. lnglis, of Anoifeyum, would accompany tho vessel in ordor to advooato the olaims of the mission. It was Agreed to loave the matter in tho hands of the Mission Committee. '

CALL TO MR. TODD

A call from the Balciutha congregation to the Key. Mr. Todd, Tokuiuu.rno, signed by fifty-four eonnnunicantj ami fifty-five adherents, was laid on the tabia. Mr. Allan moved that We call be sustained as a regular gospel call, and tkiic the two congregations be cited to appuar before the Presbytery for their intaresta at next meeting. Mr. Todd sfcatsd th^fc when he first got notice of such a movement in Balclutha he had written and requested the person most prominently concerned to let the matter drop. When fchia was not done, he had resolved to let matters take their course. It would be a sacrifice to leave a charge like that of Tokomairiro for Balclutha ; but his weak health had encouraged the getting up of this call. As yet he had not been -able to determine which course on his part would be most beneficial to the Christian community ; but he trusted that when parties hud pled their case light would be giveu as to the path which duty would prescribe. Mr. Adam, of Tokomairiro, elder, complained of the unexpected nature of the call. The congregation, he aaid, were willing to appoint another minister in order to lighten the work. The motion was put and carried. Mr. Allan was appointed to cite the Tokomairiro congregation, and Mr. Waters that of Balclutha. PERSONA! MATTEH3. Some communications from the Olerk, who was prevented by ill health from attending, were, after a rather animated discussion, ordered to lie on the table till next meeting, a motion to the con- ; trary being lost by a large majority, KECOKD3. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. i Todd, that all kirk-3essiou3 and deacons' j courts send up their records for examinaI tion by the Presbytery in December nest. [ Mr. Tudd gave notice of a motion re- ! ducing, after tins year, the Mrderator'a tenure of office from a year to six months. The Presbytery then adjourned, to meet at Balclutha on Wednesday, the 30th inst., at eleven o'clock.