WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1900, Page 4

WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

A KINDLY CRITICAL SURVEY. The eclectic club of the Wesleyan Methodist Church concluded its session of fourteen days last week. The. plan* of its public services gave a fair idea of its importance. The list of the ministerial members first de- ' mauds notice. According to its presentation, they are not a learned brotherhood. One name alone stands out: as a bright particular star, the owner having approved himself as artium magister in a colonial uni- . versity. The president, elect is dignified by a scientific appellation, a proof that he has studied the world in which he lives superficially. Another member has examined to : some extent the composition of the I earth from which he was taken, and his diligence has been marked with appreciative letters. .Nothing remarkable is visible .in the secretarial department. On the platform to the right of the president sat the magnate of the assembly. lie may be compared to Aaron's rod, the blossoms of: honour clustering thickly upon him. An American seat of learning has sent him a diploma which, gives him liberty to write D.D. after his name. His brethren re- | spectfully accord him the title, re- ] | cognising his logical, theological, I financial, and historical pre-eminence. ; lie is dutiful, dignified, deservingvenerable in appearance, portly in ': person—-an ideal Wesleyan minister, j ! Though this congress of divines does j i hot: challenge admiration for its j learning, yet it is worthy of respect j' for the preaching power it possesses, j /There is great/diversity of gifts no 'doubt. Some have ten talents, some j five, others not so many. Each, howI ever, has abundant opportunity to ! exercise his rhetoric forces. A few | : | might, be selected, say seven, and j i • pronounced orators. The majority!' l lire diligent labourers in the Word ,; land doctrine, while a. small band pose j ]as Evangelists, indulging in the hor- j ' tatory style of pulpit performance. I; \'No burning question occurred during f ' the session. .The most exciting ad-1 dress was on the imperial spirit that J has been awakened throughout Her t Majesty's dominions by the Trans- i

vaal war. Kconomic mailers took most of the time and attention of members. The stationing business is :i cumbersome affair—slow, annoying, like the trekking of one of Ooni Paul's bullock waggons. The lay element was well represented numerically, intellectually, and by attention to" business. Many of them, being associated with the ministers as eommitteernen. A few only exhibit facility and faculty in debate. Perhaps the most interesting public service, was that held on Monday evening, March sth, when the speakers advocated the claims of the Twentieth Century Fn-id. Messrs Lewis, Baumber, a lid Garland were fu.ll of matter and of zeal. Xo layman bad a -say. which was n Jnmentable defect. A harbour excursion and an oratorio appealed to the physical and musical sensibilities of the coni'erenfial members and of'sympathising friends and adherents. Altogether the session was n happy one, the delegates from' far and near rejoicing in the reunion, and retiring to their ordinary avocations refreshed in body and minds, and declaring their purpose to ijive all diligence to make their calling and. election sure. A notable fact was the volunteering of eight candidates for ministerial service. SKXKX.

Captain Edwin advises for 24 hours from !) a.m. this day: Moderate westerly winds. Since elected chairman .Mr Witheford has attended daily at the Harbour Board otliees and has throughout given the closest attention to the improvement of certain noxious arrangements on or about the wharves, and has firmly acted in regard to enforcing the prohibition re imported bones. The Board unanimously endorsed ' the chairmans' action in these matters. While the Board is desirous of facilitating local shipping matters, it is in the public interests necessary for a time to prevent the possibility of cargoes of bones reaching the colony at some other port from an infected place and then being forwarded up the coast. The only way to fully protect against such is to stop bones being brought to the wharves until the danger from plague is over. Mr ,J. Shaldrick has received information by telegraph that the Government steamer llinemoa, with the Wes.fport dredge and punts in tow, left Weslport for the Manukau at 11 a.m. to-day, with fine weather. At the Onehunga Police Court today, before Dr. W. If. Close Krson, J.V., James Donaghy, on remand, appeared to answer the charge of having on the llth hist, attempted to murder James I'rennan by shooting him. Sergeant Greene applied for a further remand of eight days, as the.injured man Brennan was still in the Hospital and unable to be present to give evidence. The remand was granted. Another splendid number of the "Graphic" makes its appearance this week. It contains upwards of fifty pictures, nine of which are full-page, engravings. These/illustrations deal with leading events of public interest, such as the Plague, the War, the Water Famine, Ngarunwahia Regatta, the Sports of the Public Schools' Athletic Association, the Ladies' Volunteer Contingent, Cronje at St. Helena. The attractions of the number, which will be found to be a particularly interesting one. are set forth in detail elsewhere in this issue. Intending purchasers will do well .to secure copies early. The Harbour Board are taking steps to keep the wharves and their surroundings thoroughly clean, so as to minimise the risk of a plague outbreak. A sanitary inspector has been appointed to see that everything is in order. A tank containing carbolic acid has been placed at the outfall of: the sewer under the Queen-street wharf. A tap has been affixed, and the solution is sprinkled automatically., the smell from the sewage being thus destroyed. TShe following letter has been received by Mrs Win. Crowther. of Remuera, from the Crown Lands Commissioner (Mr (i. Mueller), under date of Monday, the 10th inst. :"Dear Madam.—It was with great regret I discovered this morning'that a telegram from the Right lion, the Premier's private secretary, which was sent from Wellington at about six o'clock .on . Fr"tiny evening, the 16th. did not reach my office until nine o'clock this (Monday) morning. In the telegram referred to I was asked to arrange for a wreath to be sent for Mr Crowthers funeral, and to attach to the. wreath a card marked as follows: 'With, sincere sympathy from the Ministers.' Tt appears that the telegraph messenger called twice on Saturday morning, but the offices being closed owing to the day being proclaimed n holiday, he simply left the usual notice, which, of course, was not found by any of the officers till this morning (Monday)- I exceedingly regret, that «T(;; should have happened, but trust that you will make allowance for these untoward circumstances, and kindly accept the expression of sincerest sympathy from the Ministry, as now conveyed by this letter." An inquest was held at LyHelton yesterday regarding the death of a man named George Webster, who died in gaol while under commitment for medical treatment, on account of drunkenness, at Ashburton. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from disease of the. kidneys, accelerated by excessive drinking, and added the following rider: "We strongly recommend that the Government be asked to withhold their support from public hospitals which have not made provision to receive men suffering from the effects of alcoholism. We recommend that all persons remanded for medical treatment should be examined thoroughly by a doctor before being sent on a journey." The final round of the gent's singles in the Te Aroha tennis tournament, which was left to Messrs Dansey and Banks to play oft", was won by the former. Fifteen players took part in the singles The residence of Mr E. Brennan, at Te Aroha, was destroyed by fire late on Saturday night, nothing beyond a little clothing being saved. The building and contents were insured in the. National for £150. A buggy accident happened in Queen street last evening through a buggy occupied by Miss "Katie Cameron, of Remucra,.and another lady coming into collision with a spring cart driven by a man named Michael Lynch. The ladies were thrown out, but no injuries were sustained, and they were ible to drive home. The College Piifles will parade at the Drill Hall at 10.15 to-morrow morning o farewell Captain Major, who is leavno- with the Fifth Contingent.

■ A Council ineetingof the XeAvZea-l-uu'l Literary and Historical Assoeia SJn wS. heul yesterday afternoon In Mr J^ngton's office, the ftcalclen nir-.l H. L Tpton) in the chair int H^ owing "ew members were elected: M^lk Maunder jtaor J3 . »« W. Sheriff, Bain, and X. S. J. liOll, *"" Ur Joseph Belton (working members}. the accounts of the year up to date, showed a credit balance ot at.. ./»• . Some time ago Mr Arnaboldi, .at Newmarket, who is tk nven.or o dynamite shell, claimed to be suitab c either for small arms or big guns, sent o c of his shells lo the government at Wellington, with the request that the she should be sent to the Imperial authorities, in view of its possible use- . fulness in the Boer. war. -Mr Ainal jo d however, has had no reply from Wellington as to whether his wish ha* been acceded to. In connection with new projectiles and high explosives in warfare, the following, from a recent issue of "Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Ms of interest:-"We have heard m-K-h lof the defectiveness of our field artililery during the present campaign, but [if 'what a correspondent sends us ih j correct, the authoriiies as a set-oft are I |-o have a chance of securing an artil- ■ lerv weapon which will put all others ■in the shade. This is the invention of jan Australian. Mr T. R. K. Asliton, who ! claims to have solved 'the problem Ot Hiring safely and effectively, from any ";ordinary gun, with any ordinary powjder, shells charged not only with dy- ' i nnmite. but with blasting gelatine, a ! ranch more rigorous explosive, stand- ; ing in relation to dynamite as JO6 to SI. JThV sensitiveness of dynamite is such ''that under ordinary circumstances it 'would explode in the barrel of a gun |and blow the weapon to fragments. !jjf the invention is ali it claims to be, (then a weapon is placed in the hands jof the artillerist by the side of which i the lyddite shell becomes a feeble injsirument. The inventor says, speaking !of the effect of gelatine shell upon nn 'ironclad. 'No punching blow would be : required to shatter her armour: the J shell would touch the ship, and the ; | gelatine would do the rest.' Two hundred and fifty such shells are claimed !to have been fired without mishap, and •jthe inventor, who is in England, will ■ 'give a demonstration of his invention ;j in the course of the next fortnight. , iwhen the War Office authorities will be iinvited togive their opinion." ! A Victorian visitor reports the fol- • I lowing occurrence, and guarantees its , j authenticity, as she received it from i I three separate members of the party ! I concerned, who were personally ; I known to her: —As some 14 members lof the Tasmanian Contingent (in uni- .' form) were standing at the corner of a ■ I Melbournestreet, a gentlemanly dres- • i sed man came up to them and said, "AYcll, ray boys, so you're off to the Transvaal.'' "Yes, sir, that is our intention," replied one of the body. "Well, come and have a drink with me before you go." replied the stranger. The men assented, and were invited to enter an hotel kept by a German. After "glasses round" had been distributed, the stranger gave the toast, ''Here's to the Boers: for every Boer that is killed may three Englishmen be killed." The sequence was an ast'dh* ■ I ishment to him. Every glass but one ' was clashed into his face; the holder jof that on exclaiming, "J will not waste good wine .over such a d skunk. You shall drink every .drop of it to the honour of the Queen and the success of.her soldiers. One, two. three i —and if it is not duly drank before three is pronounced, I'll flatten you i out, and the speaker was 6ft high, and muscular at that. At the word "two" i the wine was swallowed to Her Majesty's honour, and this was followed up by a swinging blow from the muscui lar islander, which took all the starch , out of this disloyal Englishman, who collapsed in a most evident and ci'aven ! manner, and sneaked away. In connection with the fumigation of vessels arriving from ports infected with the plague, it may be noted that , a patent has been applied for by Mr • Alexander Grant, M.A., of Newmarket, ■ for "a. method of quick disinfection ■ and of the immediate destruction of i vermin in ships' holds and other close i places." Mr Grant's idea is to inject chlorine or sulphur dioxide or other ■ poisonous gases under pressure into the closed-up hole or compartment. ■ The feature of the invention is the . accelerating by force of pressure the . diffusion of disinfectant and poisonous gases to every part of the compart- ; ment. Mr Grant has telegraphed to the Premier, stating the' nature of , his invention, and asking him to con- ■ suit other Governments and large . ship-owners, if convenient. Mr Se7idon's reply states that he has referred . the matter to the Colonial Secretary. ; A first meeting of creditors in the : estate of Henry A. Spurting, a bauk- : nipt, was to have been held yesterday afternoon at the office of the. Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, but '. lapsed for want of a quorum of creditors. ! The Devonport. Coastguard Artillery Volunteers are holding their picnic and military sports at Motutupu next Saturday. Steamers will leave the ferry tee at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on that day. The Garrison band will be in attendance. This* opportunity of an • excursion tc the beautiful island of. • Motutapu is one that should not be lost by the Governmentoa,oni o Adi ; lost by the public. The sports, pro' . gramme. lor which a large number of valuable prizes have been contributed, will be the means of attracting . a large number of the athletic portion of our population. : The anniversary social in connec- • j tion with Court Nil Desperandum is ,to be held in the Foresters' Hall i Newton, on the 23rd inst. Arrans-e- ---| merits have been made for dance j music by the Druids' string band. i The Loan and Mercantile Company , j successors to Messrs Hunter and ; Nolan, have received instructions from jMr Jas. Condor to sell at his resi- | dence, Ultimata, the whole of the ; live and dead stock, as advert isel in another column. The sale takes place on Saturday, April 7th. The auctioni eers announces the dairy stock to be ; choice and also prize winners. ; Passengers will note that the s.s. .; Wellington will leave for Whangarei , this evening from Q*u ay-street Jcttv 'No. 3. i The officers of the Naval Artillery, Devonport Coastguards, Torpedo : Corps a.nd Engineers, at a meeting last night held in the officers' room at the DrilJ-shed resolved to hold their combined camp at Easter at the 'North Shore. I We would remind all members and friends that the annual meeting- of St. Mark's Club takes place in" the Parish Hall, Eemuera, at 8 p.m. to--1 morrow evening- (Thursday).

A pleasing1 ceremony look place this afternoon at Mr T. Harle Giles'

Business College, Lower Symondsstreet, when the pupils of the College presented Mr Giles with a handsome silver-mounted pipe. The occasion was the celebration of Mr Giles' birthday, and his pupils took this means of showing their appreciation of Mr Giles' interest in their work.

To-morrow eveningl in St. George's Hall, Grey Lynn, the Edison lunematograpli Company will give the Boer war programme in aid of the funds of the Arch Hill Fire Brigade, and as the object is a good one and the programme a7i exceedingly popular entertainment there is no doubt there will be a very large attendance.

Venetian blinds price list, Cft x 3ft 9/, Cft x .'3-0 10/6, made in onr factory from the best American pine laths.-^-D.S.C.—(Ad.)

A titling time. You should get your suit and" trousers made to measure from best materials at Geo. Fowlds'.— (Ad.)

There is no risk in using Ambury, English & Co.'s pure, fresh, pasteurised, chilled milk, absolutely free from all preservatives. 3d per quart. (Adj

B.Y's. For trunks. Tings, poria, hard and soft felt hats and caps.'-Try; Geo. Fowlds.— (Ad.)

Xc-w seasons carpets in Axrainster, "Wilton and Brussels, all exclusive designs in art colourings, which we are selling at old prices.—D.S.C.—(Ad.)

Worth noting. The best place is Geo. Kov/lcls for men's and boys' clothin«', grand assortment and cheapest -(Ad.) . .-;■■

So typhoid germs in Ambury, English &' Co.'s pure, fresh, pasteurised, chilled milk, supplied morning and afternoon throughout the city. 3d per quart.—(Ad.)

Is this true? Yes. Geo. Fowlds is offering' silk reversible ties Od, bows and clerbys at lowest prices for caslt,' -(Ad.) ' . j;

Beautiful double damask table cloth and serviettes from Daley's Economic stock at less than Belfast mill prices. Sale now on.—D.S.C-— (Ad.) . £

Xo secret. Geo. Fowlds is offering" all kinds of men's underclothing, best makes at cheapest prices.—(Adi) "gig

Facts are stubborn tilings. The large increase in the consumption of Ambury, English & Co.'s pure, fresh, pasteurised, chilled milk is the best proof of its genuineness. 3d per quart: (Ad.) . i

Much in little. Much value eau be secured in fancy articles and perfumes, selling less Than cost at Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.)

Important to storekeeprs and other large buyers: We are. selling the Economic stock of dresses, silks, and prints one-third less than wholesale prices.—D.S.C.—(Ad.)

Ambury, English & Co. invite every person who is interested in the question of purified milk to visit their pasteurised milk and butter factory, Newton, any morning or evening1, auct witness the process for themselves, (Ad.)