could render in the interest of religion. Frequent as were my calls on him for preaching, he ever met them irrespective of the notice, which was often very short. His services in Lawrence, North Taieri, Green Island, Knox Church, and Wakari were much prized. Well educated widely read, a fluent speaker, with remarkable conversational powers, be was much appreciated. The day a majority of the Presbytery refused to license him except on condition that he should devote himself for a time to brush up his Greek and Hebrew, did not show much understanding of the times or of the wants of the Church.
On my way home from Gabriel's Gully on one occasion I came on a man well up the hill from Waitahuna, in a sitting posture, rocking himself as if in great pain, and groaning audibly. I dismounted, and in reply to my inquiries he said he was in great agony, and not able to walk. I asked him if he could ride; he said he thought he could. I mounted him on my horse, an arrangement being made that he was to follow the usual track, and if he reached Murray's before me, he was to hitch the horse to the fence, while I took the short track. In due course I got to Murray's, and found my horse covered with perspiration. As I mounted I took hold of my valise and was struck with its softness. On opening it I found that the man had carried oflf a dressing case which I prized highly, and the notes of my sermons, stuffing their place with tussock grass. It was a mean recompense for my compassion, but I contented myself with the hope that a perusal of the sermons might lead him to change his ways.
It was as a rule a pleasure to me to visit the Diggings and preach to men brimful of vigour, and many of them well educated. I found them appreciative, respectful, and genial. During my second visit to Gabriel's Gully I preached to a very large congregation that met on a spur with a gentle declivity. On the edge of a lower spur adjoining us, and not more than a hundred feet from where I stood, there was a neat tent with three men beside it—the latter being engaged in sawing and splitting firewood. While the congregation were singing the 100th Psalm I asked myself how I might shame our three neighbours into decency. I decided to take for the first lesson Exodus, chapter xx. When I came to the Fourth Commandment I gave to the reading of it all the voice I had, which in those days was considerable, and
