EARLY RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 8

EARLY RECORDS.

METHODIST CHURCH.

LETTERS AND PAPERS.

HUJTORICAL MATERIA!.

There was a discussion on early Church records at the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand this morning. The connexional secretary, the Rev. M. A. R. Pratt, said that in pursuance of direction last year he had taken up with the mission office in London the matter of acquirement by, or on loan to, the Methodist Church, of the reports and letters of early missionaries to the Maoris down to the year 1855. The London Society, while recognising the interest that New Zealand had in the early records, felt that they constituted part of the heirloom of the Missionary Society, and should not be parted with. The society was also reluctant to let the documents out of the mission house, particularly with a sea voyage involved. It had been prepared to .offer facilities for some authorised person visiting England to copy the documents. However, the British Missionary Society had ultimately agreed to lend the available letters and papers on certain conditions with regard to safe custody. The Rev. F. Deaville Walker, of England, had undertaken to go through the society's files between 1822 and 1855 ind obtain any references to New Zealand. The Rev. Mr. Pratt indicated measures that would be necessary for the copying of the documents, which, he said, would make available to historians of the future a wealth of historical material relating to Methodism in New Zealand. It was decided that a sum not exceeding £50 should be made available towards the cost of the work. Home Mission Work. The report of the home mission and church extension department stated that in the face of many difficulties the programme of activities represented bv the department had been steadily continued, but the problems confronting the workers in all sections had become increasingly complex. There were encouraging features, however, which had given cauee for confidence. In accordance with resolutions at the last conference a special appeal was fully planned and carried through in every circuit and home mission station. The necessity of building up the regular income ef the fund wee revealed by the estimates adopted showing an accumalated deficit of over £5000, including £1500 as the present year's share of the deficit. Aβ the accounts did not close until the end of December it was impossible to prophesy the result of the special appeal. Aβ in all appeals the result had been most encouraging where the local church organisations had been moet thoroughly arranged. Maori Work. The report of the Maori mission stated that throughout the Auckland South Auckland and Taranaki-Wanganui districts activities had been continued, and in the Waikato and King Country had been considerably developed. There was urgent need of Maori mission work in certain areas. Broadcasting. A report on broadcasting stated that owing to Government regulations being in a transition stage it was not possible to include any findings in the report. It was recommended that there should be reappointment of the committee with authority to proceed with the investigations, and that the Home Mission Board should be empowered to take any necessary action. The Rer. P. R. Paris was appointed as the Methodist Church representative on the Inter-Church Broadcasting Board. Greeting. From Delegates. Several deputations waited upon the conference to extend greetings. Dr. L. Drury and the Rev. L. B. Busfield represented the Auckland Council of Christurn Congregations, the Rev. t. H. Roseveare, New Zealand Moderator, and the Rev. J. W. McKenzie, Auckland Moderator, the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, Messrs. F. C. Pace W M Glaister and L. Falkner, Auckland temperance interests, and the Rev. Canon Fancourt, Rev. J. A. Thomson, theßev. E. D. Patchett, and Mr. R. Harrison, the Bible in Schools Movement. '