Session VIII.

First Church, Dunedin, eodem die.

The Synod met and was constituted. The Moderator in the chair.

The minutes of former meeting read and approved.

Report on Missions having been given in and read, the Synod engaged in the consideration of missions and the missionary operations of the Church, when Messrs. Gow, Fraser (of Christchurch), Nish (of Victoria), Elmslie (of Wanganui), addressed the Synod, and to whom a vote of thanks was accorded. The Synod having resumed consideration of the report, the following deliverance was agreed to:—"That the Synod approve of the report; record the thanks of the Synod to the committee, and especially to the interim convener; express their gratitude to Almighty God for the continued success attending the missions of this Church in the New Hebrides and among the Chinese in this Province; instruct the Presbytery of Dunedin to make arrangements that will enable Mr, Blake to visit and preach at the Heads as frequently as possible; and that all the Presbyteries of the Church be recommended to see that those ministers in the neighborhood of the various Native villages within their bounds take some interest in and oversight of the Maoris; that the Synod deeply sympathise with the New Hebrides Mission Synod in the bereavement it has suffered in the murder of Mr. Gordon, and in the page 12 death of Dr. Geddie; record their deep sense of the Christian devotedness of the one, and of the many labours fulfilled by the other, and pray the Head of the Church to sanctify these His dealings with this mission to His own glory and the furtherance of His cause among the degraded population of the Islands of the Pacific; instruct the committee to act in the matter of salaries and mission expenses in accord with the Churches interested in the mission, and to agree with them in reference to the reports of the Dayspring, and printing of cards; recommend that such efforts be made as may result in enabling the Synod to avail itself of the L50 already received towards the support of a second missionary in the New Hebrides; and that efforts be made to obtain a second Chinese missionary in connection with this Church; recommend to the grace of God, and to the prayers of congregations, the missionaries now in the service of this Church, that their labours in their respective fields may prove more and more successful."

Adjourned, to meet in this place tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Closed with prayer.