METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

THREE KINGS" COLLEGE. REPORT FROM TTTF. PRTNCTPAL. Tie sessions of. the Methodist Conference were contitraed yesterday afternoon at tie Pitt Street GbuTch, the vice-president, Mr. G. Wrnstone, occupying the chair.THREE KINGS' COLLEGE. 1 Mr. Stanton, LL.B., treasurer, ex-1 plained the financial position in connection with the Three Kings' College. The trustees hoped that by the time of the next Auckland Conference the whoie college institution would be in full working order. The report for the year was presented by the Rev. J. H. Simmonda, Principal, who addressed the conference on the future of the institution and the work proposed to be done. The Rev. E. T. Cox, ILA., asked when the trustees proposed to commence the erection of the college, remarking that fifteen years ago, when the scheme v/ay launched, the trustees said they would put the work in hand when was available. Later they cad asked for a sum of £3,000 for the work, and now the amount had risen as high- as £8,000. In the meantime Methodist •students were resorting to other instiitutions, lie draw tne attention of-th" l conference to ihe progress being made jfcy the Anglican and Presbyterian ! churches in this : matter. Even the j Mormons had a large institution lor i the training of naiive lads.

The Rev. J. B. Simiuonds replied that as soon a& the financial cotoditiODS permitted, the loiiHiitgi at Paeraia would be c-ected. The wax had prevented certain transactions that would have given them the requisite amount for the erectioa of the institution.

The importance ot provision being J made for the education of native girl/, as well as of youths was urged upon the conference, by Mr. Henry Buttle and the Revs. E. P. Blamkes and A. B. Chappeil, M.A. The vice-president, and a member of ihe Board of Trustees, said that while the committee realised the necessity, for the establishment of a girls' school he did not think it wise, in their present position, to seriously pursue the matter. The report was adopted, and the Principal, Rev. J. H. Sirnmonds, was accorded the thanks of the conference. FOREIGN MISSIONS. In the absence of the Rev. W. Slade, secretary of the Foreign Missionary Committee, the report and balance sheet were submitted by Rev. S. Griffith, lie intimated that the income allowed that the sum of £0207 11/5 had been received, representing an increase of £1,764 upon last year's return. This constituted a record. A special selfdenial fund had reaped £781 13/6. Satisfaction and gratitude were expressed by members, that notwithstanding the disturbed conditions created by the war, the financial support had been so good. At the evening session the claims of Auckland as against Chriatclntrch to be the centre of foreign mission work for the South Seae was raised,, when the appointment-of- a secretary - Was considered. __,_ :..._-.. :~ :_.. -_ Rev. S. Griffith moved the appointment of Rev. S. Lawry as secretary. An amendment was moved by Rev. T. 11. Brooke that Rev. T. Jones, oi Birkenhead, be appointed, and the committee set up in Auckland. The matter was referred back to the Foreign Missions Committee to report.

i THURSDAY'S BUSINESS. I The conference resumed this morning, Rev. A. C. lalwtv presiding. HOME MISSIONS. The Rev. (i. Bond submitted the statement of income and expenditure of the Methodist Home Mission and Church Ex- ! tension Fund. This showed legacies, by j C.W.O. in memory of late Richard W. Parker, Blenheim, £100; legacy, late lE. D. Collinspn. Hastings, £300; Mrs. j Elizabeth Ann Lucas. Nelspn, £100; H. !W. Scott, Dunedin, £50; and late W. 'H. Scott, a debenture, value £100; total, ! £650. This was to January 31st. The I capital for 1915 stood at £710S' 10/. i Mn Bond said the. Advisory. Commitv j tee had done their work well. It was a : subject for congratulation that during j this time of war the general giving of the members had been satisfactory, aipart from the generous support' given by Methodists to Patriotic and War Relief Funds. As a matter of fact, the year closed with an increase. He pointed ont that 70 circuits had in the contributions reached the estimates, 65 had failed to do so. The income from the respective districts was as follows:—Auckland, £1067 0/6; South Auckland. £101 12/5; Tara-naki-Wanganni. £1672 11/1; Hawkc's Bay-Manawatu district. £995 14/8; Wellington district, £335 0/2; Nelson, £194 2/7; North Canterbury, £773 5/5; South Canterbury. £30S 7/4; Otago. £259 13/j Sputhland, £129 1/9. Other receipts were: —From Oonnexipnal properties. £1205 1/9; birthday League, £32 15/8; interest on investment, £331 5/11; memorial, etc.-. £428 11/11. making a grand total of £6255 16/11. The expenditure left a credit balance of £534 18/ to start the-work of the new year. The Tcp.ort was received. TAUMARUNUI CHURCH. It was reported that the result of the canvass of the Rev. T. G. Brooke (orgahising secretary to the Home Mission) had been the raising of £401 5/6 for the new church at, Taumarunui, including £100 by the trustees- of Pitt Street Church." The appointment of officials was made as follows: General secretary, Rev.- T. G. Brooke (thanked for his services); general treasurer, Rev. G. Bond (thanked for his services and the. honorarium continued). A vote-pf- thanks was. also accprded the late lay treasurer (Mr. J. .' Veale). The Executive Cemmfttee was appointed as follows: General secretary, General treasurer, the ministers pf tho Auckland city and suburban district, Rev. W. Gittos, Messrs. F. L. Prime, J. Veale (life members). J. • E., Wheeler, J. W. Shackelford; T. McMiwrter,. T. W. Jones, T. Caley, A. Peak; J. Purnell, J. Trounson, J. E. Astley, W. Hetherington, J. W. Court, J. Watkinson, H. Dicken, W. S. Stone, J. Burton, W. J. Holdsworth, R. Pepperill, E. Dixon, H. Fraser, H. Crump, T. Clark, J. J. Parker, and R- Gunson. j The estimates.of income for the Home Mission and Church Extension Fund for ! 1916 was- fixed at £G;311 8/~, and the estimated expenditure would' leave a ■credit balance of £480- 6/11 to start operations in 1917. It waß resolved to set up a special committee to roport to- conference upon the control of;' Maori mission work throughout the -C-mLuion.

The Conference passed a cordial vote of thanks to the various advisory; cbninrittee& of the Home 'Mission:in the. various districts, and the committees' as recommended were'all re-elecied. - ; ....