METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17394, 3 March 1922, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

(PB1!83 ASSOCIATION TELBORAK >

AUCKLAND, March 2

At to-dav's sitting of the Conference, the Rev. S. Lawrjr presided. '..-.. , ■.'. The church, property report showed that'the 'trust.■■income for amounted to £77,000, and expenditure to £75,000. The debts had been substantially reduced. The fire insurance fund showed a profit of £1429, and the covered by tho fund jamounted to' tß4D,ooi, of ance. The new business durmg the W reached £32,3-10. - From the profits. £3OO was paid to the Centenary, Fund, £IOO to the Supernumerary* -Bmid.,. and' £IOO to the Deaconesses House Committee. . . ', i The first annual report of the newlyinstituted Board of Missions presented by the Eev. "W. A.. Sinclair, expressed Pleasure that during a year ot financial* stringency the missionary income had again constituted ji- record. The total receipts were £12,707, an mcrehse of £523 over last year. The Rev. T. Dent, who has been designated for foreign" missions work in the Soldmon Islands, addressed the conifftreoce. Mr Dent is the first missionary to jro out under the new arrangements in. respect to these islands, tlife missionary control of which was recently taken over by the Now Zealand Mission. A'dep'ttntion from the Women's Ms- - Union outlined the work of the IJnioii. The Rev. G. T. Marshall and Mr ~J. "W. Court were appointed treasurers for the Foreign Mission Fund. ' It was reported that a Medical Mission Fund had been established, and was in credit'£s7. The Maori Church had become interested in foreign missions, and had decided to make an annual contribution to the funds. Two Maori ministers were also prepared to go to the Solomon Islands with the same status as Samoan ministers.

Grants from the Foreign Mission Fund were- made as follows:—British Foreign Bible Society. -£100; Deaconess. Institution, £75: Methodist Church in in recognition of its services in supplying workers for the Solomon Islands Mission, £250.

It was resolved, as soon, as sufficient money was available to carry out a progressive policy in equipping the Solomon Islands Mission with a wire* less plant, portable sawmill, up-to-date water supply, a n,d sanitation and other improvements. It is anticipated that funds will be available in the near future, and in a few -years the whole schema will be in operation. Mr, E. Ohivers is to go as wireless operator and engineer, and atrained hospital nurse will be sent.

District secretaries were Rrtpointed as follows"-Auckland. Mr J. W. Shackelford: South Auckland. Mr F. 0. Panie'l•• Tararmki and 'Wa'nganni; Mr R. Peperoll: Hawt-p's Bar and' Mannwatu. Mr T. Tv. 'Hndder;' Wellington. Mr 0- Swinev; Nelson, Mr W. T). "Pike: North Canterbury. Mr Frank Tbornpson ■ South (>nte.rburr, Air .T. Watson: and Southland, Mr A. B. FroEgart. were received from t.h«> Ministers' Association—the president of whHi said, if ovonin'c nnion was tint possible, r Federation nf Ch'.ire'he* PV'dit be si^cprnpliebH—X<?"- Zen land ■ Alliance students. Christian T'nion. and Russian Famine Relief Association.'