The Synod met in First Church, Dunedin, on the evening of 10th Jan., at 7 o'clock. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. D. M. Stuart, the retiring Moderator, from 2 Cor. x. 3-5. He referred to the severe losses which the Church had sustained since the last meeting of Synod by the death of the Rev. Dr. Burns, the father of the Presbyterian Church in Otago; the Rev. James Urie, of Tapanui; and Mr. John Gillies, elder. He then nominated as his successor in the Moderator's Chair, the Rev. James Kirkland, a minister whose abundant and successful labors in his ministerial work had shown his fitness for this office.

The proposal being unanimously adopted, the Rev. James Kirkland took the chair, and delivered an address in which he fully pointed out the distinctive features of Presbyterianism, and the necessity of these being prominently set forth and impressed upon the members of our Church.

The Roll was made up, and the changes that had occurred since last meeting were reported.

The arrangements for the missionary meeting of Synod were intimated, which was appointed for Monday, the 15th, at 7. Committees for arranging business and revising records, also to prepare a minute relative to the losses sustained by death, were appointed.

II.

The first hour of this meeting was spent in devotional exercises, con- page 42 ducted by the Rev. Messrs. Gow, M'Naughton, Chisholm, and M'Cosh Smith. Returns from Presbyteries respecting the overture on hasty legislation were sent, which showed that two Presbyteries disapproved of it. The Synod dismissed the overture. A reference was considered from Southland, respecting a call from Winton and Forest Hill which had been given to the Rev. J. M. Thomson. The Synod instructed the Presbytery to proceed with the call according to the laws of the Church. A minute of Clutha Presbytery was read, stating that Mr. John Steven having finished the literary curriculum required, was now enrolled as a theological student of the first year. An overture on Sabbath Schools from the Dunedin Presbytery was introduced by Mr. Johnstone. The Synod adopted the overture, and agreed to appoint a Committee to bring up a report on the whole subject, with statistics regarding the number and state of Sabbath Schools to next Synod. Mr. Gow to be convener. Mr. Miller, elder, moved that the Moderator be requested to allow his address to be printed, and that it be sent to all the office-bearers in the Church.

III.

The Moderator stated, in reference to the proposal which had been made in the previous sederunt, that as some had expressed a difficulty in agreeing to the request in the name of the Synod, he desired to relieve such by intimating that the address would be published on his own responsibility. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. The thanks of the Synod were voted to the Moderator for his admirable address; also to the retiring Moderator for his excellent sermon at the opening of the Synod.

An overture from the Dunedin Presbytery was brought up by the Rev. Mr. Watt, proposing that Kirk Sessions might be allowed to choose as their representative elders at the Synod, elders who belonged to other sessions. It was alleged in favor of the proposal that many sessions had frequently not been represented at all in the Synod, in consequence of their distance and other circumstances, and that good might accrue from the presence in the Synod of experienced elders who might be selected. On the other hand, it was stated that the evil complained of was already in course of adjustment, so that there was nearly an equality in the numbers of ministers and elders; that confusion might arise in connection with appeals; and that the permission proposed to be given might lead sessions at a distance to be less anxious to send representatives of their own number. The overture was carried by 21 to 19.

IV.

The report of the Church Extension Committee was brought up by the Rev. Mr. Stuart. One preacher, the Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith, M.A. page 43 B.D., had arrived during the year; and two others, the Rev. Messrs Macara and Cameron, were appointed and expected to arrive soon. The Rev. James Baird, preacher, had been settled at Hampden; Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith, at Naseby (the centre of Mount Ida Goldfield); Rev. James Copland, of Lawrence, at North Dunedin; Rev. James Clark, of Riverton, at Palmerston; Rev. John Gow, of Hokitika, at St. Andrew's, Dunedin. The congregations vacant are—1, Lawrence; 2, Tapanui; 3, Riverton; 4, Alexandra and Blacks (through the resignation of the Rev. G. S. Ross); 5, Lower Waitaki; 6, Waitahuna (so soon as it is sanctioned as a separate charge). In addition, the charge of Balclutha is vacant through the resignation of the Rev. A. B. Arnot.

The preachers available for supply are Messrs. Bett (who will probably be settled at Tapanui); M'Lean, C. S. Ross and Arnot. Mr. Fleming, a divinity student, will be immediately licensed and added to the number. Since the report was given in, the Rev. A. Blake has been transferred to the work of the Church, and declared open to a call. The report complained of the small funds available for its work; recommended founding of scholarships by congregations to encourage suitable students for the ministry; and suggested the employment of students in home mission work. The report was adopted with thanks; the Committee empowered to employ ministers or probationers newly arrived who are duly certified by the Presbyteries of this Church; and Presbyteries enjoined to see that the collections for the fund are made in all their congregations.

On the motion of Mr. Stobo, it was agreed that it be lawful to vacant congregations to call ministers holding charges in other churches, having principles common to the Presbyterian Church here.

Mr. Fleming, divinity student, was authorised to be taken on trial for license.

The Rev. Dr. Copland brought up the report of the Union Committee, which pointed out the desirableness of co-operating with the Northern Church in giving expression to their views on the questions which engage the attention of the Legislature, bearing on the moral and spiritual welfare of the community—especially education, the marriage question, the Sabbath law, and the so-called Contagious Diseases Act. Further, it recommended the institution of a common fund for scholarships for students for the ministry from all parts of the country, and the providing of a common Theological Institution for education of students for the whole Church. The report was adopted, and it was afterwards agreed that the deputies to the General Assembly should express the desire of the Synod to co-operate in forming a common fund for scholarships for students for the ministry, and to ascertain the intentions of the General Assembly in page 44 regard to providing a Theological Hall, which might meet the wants of the whole Church. Further that the deputies should intimate to the Assembly the opinion of this Synod with regard to the necessity of securing a national instead of a denominational system of education for the Colony, and should suggest the desirableness of their urging the Legislature to provide such a system.

V.

The Rev. Mr. Sutherland gave in the report of Committee on the State of Religion. It deplored the continuance of traffic on the highways and by steamers, and the keeping open of some shops, which were unnecessary. It noticed with approval the united action of the churches in Melbourne against the opening of places of recreation on Sabbath, and suggested similar co-operation among the churches to oppose running of railway trains on Sabbath if this should become necessary. The evangelistic services had been generally held, and with good results. The report was adopted with thanks, and the Synod instructed ministers to preach on Sabbath Observance on second Sabbath of March, and to hold special services for the conversion of the young on first Sabbath in November. Presbyteries were instructed to arrange for special evangelistic services in those congregations where they were not held last year, and to give encouragement to a judicious system of colportage where practicable. Congregations were recommended to petition against all Sabbath traffic. The Committee was recommended to invite co-operation of other Christian Churches in petitioning against Sabbath traffic.

The Sustentation Fund Committee's Report was presented by the Rev. Mr. Will. The dividend for the first half year was £94 Is.; for the second half-year, £93 11s.; total for the year, £187 12s. The Committee acknowledged with thanks a donation from Miss Muir, of Percetown, of £19 12s. 4d.; and from Mr. Edmonston, of Edinburgh, of £2.

It was resolved to approve of the report with thanks, and to recommend this fund to the earnest consideration of the Churches, as the chief fund by which the means of grace are maintained and extended throughout the Province in connection with this Church.

At a later sederunt, a Committee, composed entirely of laymen was appointed as the Sustentation Fund Committee for 1871; Capt. Thomson, Convener.

On Saturday the Synod, as usual, did not meet; and on Sabbath, the Rev. Mr. Bannerman and the Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith preached by appointment of Synod in the First Church.

VI.

This meeting was held as the annual missionary meeting of Synod. page 45 From the change of weather which had taken place, the attendance of the public was, we regret to say, not what it should have been.

The annual report of missionary operations of the Church reviewed briefly the several spheres of work. In the New Hebrides Mission, discouragement had been felt from the effects of the labor traffic which is carried on in the islands. The missionary, the Rev. Mr. Milne, was laboring in Nguna without any assistant native teacher, holding service with the natives in the open air. During Mr. Milne's absence at the Conference of New Hebrides Missionaries at Aniwa in July, news had reached this country that the mission premises on Nguna had been ransacked by a party of slavers who had come to revenge injuries which the natives had inflicted on a slave vessel which had come to the island. The Committee, however, had received no reliable intelligence regarding this. The report expressed sympathy with the Melanesian Mission under their severe losses in the cruel deaths of Bishop Patteson and the Rev. Mr. Aitken—the effects of the prevalent slave trade.

The gift of £50 for a second missionary could not be applied to that purpose. The amount of money contributed for the Dayspring was £251.

The Maori Mission had been systematically carried on in the various Maori settlements of the Province, and in the gaols and hospitals of Dunedin and Invercargill. In consequence of the health of Mrs. Blake being found unsuited for the climate at the Heads, the Synod agreed to Mr. Blake's transferring his services to the general work of the Church.

The Chinese Mission has achieved a fair measure of success. Paul Ah Chin, the missionary, has preached every Sabbath to a small congregation of Chinese in Lawrence, numbering about twenty. Three have renounced their heathen ideas and practices, and been received by baptism into the Christian Church. A fourth had applied for baptism, and good hopes were entertained of others now under instruction. Tracts and books in Chinese had been received for circulation. The report expressed the regret of the Committee at the death of the Rev. George Mackie, Convener of the Chinese Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church, Victoria, who had rendered great service to this Church in all our arrangements regarding the Chinese Mission.

The contributions to the General Mission Fund amounted to £475 8s. 11d. Maori Mission £4 10s.; New Hebrides, £14 10s.; Chinese £20 10s.; Native teachers, New Hebrides, £5—in all, £519 18s. 11d., in addition to the donation of £50 reported at last Synod for a second missionary to the New Hebrides. The disbursements are—Maori Mission, £281 18s.; Chinese, £201 6s. 9d.; New Hebrides, £16414s.; sundry expenses, £9 13s.; balance of debt to R. P. Church, £76 4s. page 46 6d.—in all, £732 16s. 3d. The balance in Treasurer's hands to meet liabilities for 1872 is (besides £50 donation) £94 13s. 5d.

This is by no means satisfactory, inasmuch as—although all liabilities up to 31st Dec., 1871, are cleared off—the income for 1872 is not likely to be received until near the end of the year, while the expenditure for 1872 must begin immediately. The salary of Mr. Milne, along with payment for new dwelling-house, amounting in all to £165, must be remitted immediately; also £10 due to the Chinese Mission Committee of the Victorian Church for a consignment of books and tracts. The quarterly salaries of the other two missionaries will fall due on the 31st March. We trust these facts will be borne in mind by the missionary associations of the Church, and that the first quarter's collection will be sent in to the Treasurer as soon as possible.

The income for 1871 amounted to £519 18s. 11d.; expenditure, £732 16s. 3d. For 1870—income, £538 1s. 9d.; expenditure, £585 6s. 4d. For 1869—income, £470 4s. 4d.; expenditure, £554 7s. For 1868—income, £329 15s. 3d.; expenditure, £209 4s. 6d. For 1867—income, £327 7s. 3d; expenditure, nil.

In the deliverance given on the report, the Synod "urge upon the members of this Church more earnest prayer to [God, and increased liberality, that all the branches of the mission may be prosecuted with increasing vigor and success, and more especially that a second missionary may be provided for the increasing number of Chinese within our borders."

Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. A. Blake, D. Ross, D. M. Stuart, and A. B. Todd; Messrs. Geisow, E. B. Cargill, and J. E. Brown, elders, and by Paul Ah Chin, Chinese Missionary.

VII.

Tuesday, 16th January.—A new Presbytery was formed, to be called the Oamaru Presbytery, and the Rev. Messrs. Christie of Waikouaiti, Baird of Hampden, Clark of Palmerston, Riley of Otepopo, Todd of Oamaru, and M'Cosh Smith of Naseby, were disjointed from Dunedin Presbytery and connected with it. The seat of the new Presbytery is fixed at Otepopo.

An overture was introduced by Mr. Geisow to the effect that ministers be recommended to address their congregations in the course of the year on the principles of the church, which was agreed to.

On the recommendation of the Presbytery of Clutha, authority was given by the Synod to sanction Waitahuna as an independent charge if the Presbytery should see fit to do so.

VIII.

Tuesday Evening.—The whole of this sederunt was occupied with the hearing of parties in the First Church case, which shewed the congregation almost equally divided, each desiring the retirement of the other—nearly all the office-bearers being arraigned against the minister.

IX.

Wednesday, 17th January.—Three motions were submitted. The first as follows, by the Rev. Mr. Stobo:—"That the Synod express its deep regret at the state of things existing in the First Church, as disclosed in the papers on the table and in the pleadings at the bar; find that this state of things is due largely to the course pursued by the minister; regret that instead of striving to conciliate those dissatisfied with the course pursued by him, the minister has acted in a way rather to irritate and increase the aberration of those dissatisfied with him. Find that from the statements made by the minister and other parties at the bar, as representing the sections into which the congregation is divided, there is no hope of a reconciliation between the minister and those dissatisfied with him, and that in consequence his usefulness is so impaired as to destroy all hope of his retaining the congregation originally committed to him, and therefore with a view to the interests of the congregation and of religion and the good of the church, the Synod recommend the minister to resign his present charge."

Mr. Millar moved as an amendment to add to the above—"That in the event of Mr. Sutherland resigning, the office-bearers be requested to resign also."

The Rev. Mr. Riley proposed a further amendment—"That the Synod having considered the reference from Dunedin Presbytery anent First Church, expresses its regret that differences should have arisen between the pastor and a large number of his congregation; find that faults and irregularities have been committed by both parties, and resolve for the good of the church to ask the minister and officebearers to resign, and appoint assessors to form an interim kirksession."

On a vote on the two amendments, Mr. Millar's was carried against Mr. Riley's by 22 to 13. On the vote between the motion and Mr. Millar's amendment, the motion was carried by 19 against 17. Three members and one elder declined to vote.

X.

Wednesday Evening.—The motion which the Synod adopted was dissented from (for reasons given) by the Rev. Messrs. Riley, Connor, page 48 Greig, Christie, Waters, M'Cosh Smith, and Alves; and by Messrs. G. Clark and G. M. Clark, elders.

Mr. Sutherland intimated his regret that he could not comply with the Synod's recommendation, for reasons stated to the Synod. After reasoning, it was resolved by the Synod—"That the Synod having already declared Mr. Sutherland to be mainly to blame for the present state of matters existing in the First Church, and having recommended Mr. Sutherland to resign in order to effect a settlement of the difficulties, and Mr. Sutherland having refused to comply with the recommendation, the Synod instructs the Presbytery of Dunedin to enjoin Mr. Sutherland to act in a more befitting and constitutional manner towards the Session and Deacon's Court. In the event of further difficulties arising requiring the intervention of the Synod, authorise the Moderator of the Synod, on the request of the Presbytery, to call a pro re nata meeting of Synod to dispose thereof.

The Report of the University Committee was given in, from which it appeared that the Knox Church Scholarship had been awarded to Mr. Ferguson, Tokomairiro. Thanks were awarded to the Committee, and it was remitted to them to make the necessary arrangements regarding the disposal of the scholarships, with a recommendation that the Lang scholarship should be offered to second-year students, and be tenable for two years.

XI.

Thursday, 18th January.—An overture on hasty legislation was sent down for consideration by Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions. The Temperance Committee's report recommended generally that ministers should use their influence as far as possible in promoting the formation of bands of hope, temperance societies, &c and that petitions should be largely signed in favor of a Permissive Bill.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Todd, the Rev. Messrs. Kirkland and Riley were appointed as an evangelistic deputation to visit some of the more remote districts of the Province—especially the Goldfields.

The Rev. Mr. Gow brought up a report on the subject of employing students and lay agents in the work of evangelising. It suggested that Presbyteries should forward to the Church Extension Committee full particulars of destitute districts within their bounds, and seek out suitable men for the work of evangelisation. It also recommended that means should be used to increase the fund at the disposal of the Committee to enable it to overtake the work which will devolve on it. The report was adopted.

Regulations for the administration of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund were agreed to.

XII.

Thursday Evening.—The Psalmody Committee gave in their report. It was resolved by a majority that the English Presbyterian Hymn Book be sent down to Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions for their consideration, that if it be deemed expedient said collection may be adopted at the next meeting of Synod. Rev. Mr. Bannerman and Messrs. Grant, Duff, and J. W. Thomson dissented.

Resolutions on education were introduced by Mr. A. D. Johnston of Warepa, in support of a system of education like that existing in Otago, opposing the introduction of a denominational system, and desiring the co-operation of other churches in securing a colonial system of education in which the practical management of schools will not rest with any ecclesiastical denomination. The resolutions were unanimously adopted.

The Rev. James Cosh, formerly missionary in the New Hebrides, was received as a minister in connection with this Church open to a call. A memorial from the New Hebrides missionaries was read and remitted to the Mission Committee, with power to act. The Rev. A. B. Todd was appointed Moderator of the Oamaru Presbytery, to meet on the 11th March next, and the Rev. Dr. Copland was appointed interim Moderator of the Dunedin Presbytery in lieu of Mr. Todd. The Finance Report was given in by the Rev. Mr. Gillies, and adopted. Collections were appointed for church extension not later than March, passage money of ministers, July, and for Missions, November. A collection for the Bethel Mission was also recommended. The Synod regretted want of time to hear Mr. Watts's paper read as previously arranged, but requested him to read it at next meeting of Synod.

The various Committees were appointed, with their Conveners—viz.: Church Extension, Rev. D. M. Stuart; Missions, Rev. James Kirkland; Sustentation Fund, Captain Thomson; Sanctioning Charges, Rev. A. H. Stobo; Finance, Rev. W. Gillies; University, Mr. E. B. Cargill; Temperance, Rev. James Clark; Sabbath Schools, Rev. John Gow; State of Religion, Rev. John Riley.

The Moderator then briefly addressed the Synod, and the meeting was brought to a close in the usual way by the singing of a portion of the 122nd Psalm and by grayer.

The Synod adjourned, to meet in First Church, Dunedin, on Tuesday, 14th January, 1873.