Group Title : Minutes & Agendas

Series Title : Minute Book

Date(s) : 7 Mar 1888 to 22 Oct 1901

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Item Description : This file contains the minutes of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (Northern) Foreign Mission Committee.
NB: Prior to 1888, no formal Minute Book was held, the previous Convenor (to 1887) only handing over a "few letters" to the new Convenor.

Major Topics Include : Application for missionary service from Rev T. Smaill not approved due to unmarried status (1888); References to Rev W. Watt on Tanna Island (1888 onwards); Lack of previous Foreign Mission Committee Minute Book (1888); Resignation of Charles Murray due to health and minute of appreciation (1888); Regulations for Furlough leave (1888); No response to appeal for new Missionary for Ambrim (1888) and decision to try in Great Britain (1889); Sabbath Schools' contributions to the "Dayspring" fund (1889); Reference to Dr R. Lamb studying Divinity and Medicine in Edinburgh (1889); New Hebrides Synod minute re obtaining a steam supply vessel (1889); Proposed New Hebrides Mission constitution (1889); Offer of Dr J Inglis (In Scotland?) to act as agent for the NZ Northern Mission Committee (1889); Consent of Committee sought to sell the "Dayspring II" (1890); Offer from Rev J S Paton (Australia) to support Dr R.Lamb for three years (1890); Annual Report (1891); Reference to Victorian Church decision to use funds collected for a replacement "Dayspring" to purchase a steam vessel to assist settling of areas of Malekula and desire of committee that existing shipping service be maintained by any new vessel (1891); Missionary candidates Mr Wilson, Mr Fairlie, Mr Robert Lamb (1891); Approval of New Hebrides Mission Synod constitution (1891); Creation of the "Dayspring fund" from the sale of the "Dayspring II" (1891); Correspondence with references to Robert Lamb (1891 on); Registration of New Hebrides Mission property (1892); Support of New Hebrides Native teachers (1892); Annual reports of the Foreign Mission Committee (1891 onwards); "Native teachers" fund (1892); Appointment of Dr R. Lamb to Ambrim  (1892); Appointments of Mr RMG McDowall and Mr J W Mansfield as assistants to Dr Lamb (1892); Purchase of mission site at Dip Point, Ambrim (1892); Copy of employment agreement with Missionaries (1892); Death of Dr. Lamb's twin children and illness of Mr Mansfield (1893); Friction between Dr. Lamb and committee (1893); Resignation of Mr J W Mansfield (1894); Destruction of mission premises by fire (1894); Resignation of Mr R M G McDowall (1894); Threatened resignation of Dr R Lamb (1894); Re appointment of Mr J W Mansfield (1894); Memorial minute to Mrs Agnes Watt (1894); Offer by Rev Watt to forgo salary for one year to pay for another missionary (1894); Resignation of Convenor, Rev R. Erwin (1894); Appointment of Rev W. Grant as acting Convenor (1894); Desire of Canadian Presbyterian Church to withdraw from the New Hebrides (1894); Donation of funds for new hospital (1895); "Financial embarrassment" of Canadian Church (1895); Ordering of New "Dayspring" by Victorian Church (1895); Appointment of Miss Mary Phillips to Ambrim Hospital (1895); Query regarding usage of funds from the "Dayspring Insurance Reserve Fund" (1896); Loss of the "Dayspring III" and committee desire that no further vessel be purchased without consent of all contributing Churches (1896); Securing of Mr Alexander Gillies of Orkney as new Missionary for Tanna (1897); Resignation of Miss Phillips as nurse at Ambrim Hospital due to gross negligence (1897); Illness of Dr. Lamb necessitating his departure from the New Hebrides (1897); Mission Committee recommendation that a replacement Mission steamer be obtained (1897); Free Church of Scotland disapproval of new Mission vessel (1897); Request for Mr Mansfield to have authority to dispense Baptism, administer Communion and to marry referred to Assembly (1897); Dr R. Lamb's medical report (1897); Engagement of Nurse McLean for Ambrim hospital (1898); Appointment of Rev Gillies to Kwamera station on Tanna (1898); Church being "Exploited" by agents of China Island and Poona Indian Mission (1898); Discussion on allowances to Missionary's Children (1899); Decision of Victorian Church to build a replacement "Dayspring" (1899); Resignation of Nurse McLean from Ambrim Hospital and it's temporary closure (1899); Cost effectiveness of using commercial maritime services to New Hebrides rather than a Mission owned vessel (1899); Resignation of Mr Mansfield (1900); Ecumenical conference on Foreign Missions in New York (1900); Charges made against Mr Bowie by Mr Mansfield (1900); Visit of Rev G B Inglis to New Hebrides (1900); Intended resignation of Rev A. Gillies of Kwamera due to ill health. (1900); Appointment of Mrs Morris as Nurse at Ambrim Hospital (1900); Report by  sub-committee on Mission finances (1900); Memorandum on French aggression in New Hebrides sent to NZ Premier (1900); Forming of Women's Missionary Association for the whole Church (1900); Report on New Hebrides by Rev G B Inglis (1900); Discussion on dispute between Dr Bowie, Dr Lamb and Rev Inglis re. "Thedies" land on Ambrym (1901); French aggresion on Epi and unjust decisions made by the "Joint Commission" and recommendation to Assembly to make a Deputation to the Premier, Mr R J Seddon (1901); Complaint by Mr Mansfield against Rev Inglis (1901); Discussions on Post Union representation of the Foreign Missions Committee (1901).

NB: The minutes from 6 Nov 1901 to 9 Nov 1904 are duplicates of those entered in the NZ Presb. Church Foreign Missions minute book.

At rear of the book are the names, represented Churches and locations of the Foreign Missions Convenors, Secretarys or Agents with a Mission representation in the New Hebrides.
 
 

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