WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9364, 13 March 1896, Page 6

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(PBS9S ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 12. At the Wesleyan Conference Tetinui Heretini, a Maori student, was received as a probationer. The report of the Committee on the Statute necessary in connection with the Methodiat Union was read as follows by Mr Stephens :—(1) A draft containing the heads of the proposed Statute has been prepared and is attached hereto ; (2) it is not practicable to insert any reference to connexional fire insurance; (3) with regard to ihe question of incorporation, in view of all the difficulties surrounding the matter |your Committee do not recommend any steps to be taken in that direction at present; (4) your Committee recommend, that the draft of the heads of the proposed Statute be approved, and that it be remitted to a Committee to prepare • Bill on the lines therein indicated, with power to make any alterations or '.additions necessary for giving complete effect to the same, and to agree to any alterations or conditions imposed by Parliament, and to take all necessary steps for passing the ■tune through Parliament/; such Committee to ooneiit of the President, the Revs. W. Morley and Orchard, Measis Thomas Buddie, J. A. Fleeher and J. C. Stephens; (S) your Committee also recommend the Conference to affirm the principle that there should be one central Custodian of Deeds aoting for the whole colony. On the motion of the Rev. H. Ball, it Was further resolved that the expenses con* neoted with the Bill above referred to should be in the meantime paid from the Contingent Fnnd. The report was then adopted with unanimity. On the recommendation of the wune Committee, it wae resolved, with reference to the will of the late Allan Cameron Campbell—-"That the Wesleyan Methodist Conference resolves that it shall, and doth hereby, so far as it lawfully can or may, decline to accept and renounces all benefit under the said will, being desirous that the widow should obtain the benefit! under the will."

Pursuant to notice, the Rev. W. Morley moved, and the Secretary seconded—" That the case of the Rangiora cirouit read jnstment be reconsidered." This was oarried. The Rev. W. Morley then moved, and Mr J. T. Smith seconded—" That Oxford, Hofrelville, Carleton, Bennetts and Woodaid* form a separate cirouit." The motion ira* oarried.

The Rev. A. C. Lawiy moved the suspension of the standing orders to allow of the case of St. Albans being coneidered, with a view to moving that Windsor be transferred from the Durham street cirouit to the St. Albans circuit. This was agreed to, and on the motion being put to the vote it was agreed by the Conference that Windsor be transferred to St. Albans, as requested, for a term of at least one year. The Secretary moved the adoption of the recommendation of the Home Mission Committee-- ,, That the financial condition of the West Coast mission is eminently unsatisfactory, and that unless there be an improvement the agent be withdrawn." This was seconded by the Rev. W. Morley, and after some discussion vu postponed until the nutter of Native work was nndor discussion. Ife was subsequently withdrawn. The Secretary moved the appointment of » missionary to itinerate amon? the Mattered settlers, especially in new settlements. After discussion, the Rev. W. Morley moved the previous question, which was carried.

The Rev. T. G. Carr moved the recommendation of the Wellington District Synod in favour of a separate district Synod for Maori work in the North Island under charge of a European chairman. This waa lost. The Rev. C. Griffin moved aa an amendment the recommendation of the District Recommendations Committee to the effect that this be not entertained. The amendment was carried, after the Revs. W. Glttos, Hammond and Morley had spoken. The Rev. L»wry then moved—" That the question of constituting a separate district Synod for Maori work under charge of a European chairman be remitted for consideration to the Home Mission Executive Committee, to report to the District Synod of 1896." The motion was carried by 39 to 23.

The Rev. J. S. Rishworth was placed on the permanent supernumerary list.