Wednesday.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 30 January 1873, Page 5

Wednesday.

AGED MTNISTBBS' FUND. The Committee on the above made the following recommendations for the establishment of the above fund, whi.-h were adopted : -" (1 ) That the Synod resolve to institute an Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. (2 ) That each minister of the Church be requested to pay into the fund not less th in L 2 per annum. (3.) That the wealthier mem bers and friends of the Church be invited to contribute to this fund by donation, legacy, or otherwV, as they may deem best. (4 ) That the whole matter be sent down to Prpshyteriea for their consideration, with instructions th,a.t |hey bring the subject before their sessions and Deacon's. Cou>ts. (5 ) That Presbyteries be required to ap r point Committee* within their bounds for the purpose of obtaining contributions to this fund (0.) That the following be appointed a Syno I's Committee to mature the scheme and to further the objpots of the fund, viz :— The Hey. J. Kyley {Convener), Dr. Copland, Messrs W. Gillies, Juo. Gow, A. Greig, J. tf. M'Xaughton and Messrs Millar, Wale?, Ronnie, Reith, Smith, and Glendining. " TEMPERANCE. The Committee reported that their attention during the past year had been mainly directed to co-operation wibh the Otago Temperance Alliance in getting petitions signed in favor of the Permissive Bill which was before Parliament. That there was need for vigorous efforts being pub forth in that direction WQufd appear/ when it was known that public-houses were increasing to an a 1 arming extent. In 1869 their number was 463, while in 1872 they had increased to 571, being an increase of 108. There were in the Province, including Southland, 72 wholesale licenses, or 1 for every 722 persons above 15 ye rs ; 144 bottle do , or 1 for every 361 above 15 ; 571 hotel and accommodation hou-es, or 1 for every 92 above 15; 715 ho:el and bottle do, or 1 for every 74 above 15 ; 787 licenses of all kinds, or 1 for every 67 above 15 By the returns furnished it wasfqtjnd ttjat 1 077 arrests took place for drunkenness during the post year while in 1860 there were 1,091 CQuvjctioni; shoiiyingi decrease of opgn drunkenness., jn view of the number of places for selling intoxicating drinks, and prevalence of drunkenness, the ommittee urged the Church to bestir itself, and endeavor to create a healthy public opinion on the subject, and seek to help in getting a legislature enactment passed embodying the principles of the Permissive Bill. As an encouragement to greater effort in this>direction, the gratifying fact had been stated by th^e late Premier— " That never before had so many people in the Colony united to petition fop any one ebject." Thp committee noticed with pleasure the efforts of j the* various temperance socie ies, and' the Dunedin Licensing B nch's action in reducing the number ef public koases in the City ; and concluded their report by suggesting that the Synod should recommend ministers t ■ preach on the subject during the year, and encourage the establishment of Temperance Societies and Bands of Hope in the districts where they do not exist The report was adopted, and ministers enjoined to attend to the committee's i ecommenda tions.