METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 755, 2 March 1910, Page 7

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

- : p—— ■■ ■ (By Tolegraph.-Press ' Association.) - Dunedin, March 1. The Methodist Conference decided today to transfer Kaiwarra, now in tho Jbnnsonville circuit, to. the Thorndon circuit. It was also resolved to unite tho Wellington-' South and suburbnn circuits, a second minister to reside at Kilbirnie, The ■ Hutt circuit was divided, the new one, which is. to be called Petone, to Inelude Petone, W.ainui, Kordkoro, and Lastbourne. At the afternoon session it was resolved that, if required, the following circuits fulfil their obligation to take a married minister, viz., Wostport, Motueka, and Kaiapoi. •Tho.report'pi the committee.appointed at last conference ro the Christchurch mission was submitted by tho Rev. C. H Garland and-adopted, viz.: (1) That a central mission bo established in Christchurch in 1911; (2) that the staff consist of a superintendent and an assistant, and -that during the initiation'of the mission the. assistant bo a probationer; (3) that the Revs. W. A. Sinclair and N. Turner be designated, for these positions respectively. The reappointment of the committee was made with the addition of the immes of Messrs. L. M. lsitt and J. * Smith. In tho motion of the Rev.' W. Slnde it was ■ resolved to appoint a representative committee of management for the Dunedin central mission.' The Rev. .J... N... Buttle ..presented tho ; report on foreign missions, which was adopted. The.income for- the past year ; was ,£243 l —an. increaso of 0)171. Appre- ; ciative reference was made to the depui tatic-n work of the Revs.'-W; R. Poole. , Fiji, and J. W. Burton, of the Indian ; mission, Fiji, during the year. The work of the ladies' auxiliaries was ,eulogised, * especially, tho Otago' Auxiliary, which is . preparing for the support of a third mis- , sionary sister on the held. The "Mission- [ ary Review," in its greatly improved con- ! dition, was .commended to the various , circuits. 'The greeting of- the conference was ordered to be forwarded to' the Rev. W. Hoighway (Navuloa,- Fiji), who is . shortly to visit the Dominion to do deputation work until August 10. The- Rev. . J. G. Wheen, .one of the general secretaries in Sydney, was invited to visit the Dominion during 1911.. The Rev. J. 8. Buttle was' heartily thanked, and reappointed foreign mission secretary and treasurer for New Zealand. •'■-'; It was resolved to request tho general committee in Sydney to appoint the Rev. J. W. Burton to Now Zealand should lie e retiro from mission work In 1911. ;. The Rovs. C. E. Dtsooroft and T. G. Hammond wero appointed to TOpiescnt the conference at tho United i'oroign Mission Convention to be held at Wuiniarino hv January, 1911. * Miss Benjamin-was reported as-about •, to l&ivo New Zealand to take up hor -former work in Papua. :9 Miss Jamieson, Palulerston'North, has i 8 been accepted as a sister for work in' tho 3 mission field; and will .shortly receive an appointment. 17 ../' 10 toy missionary movement was hearf7 tily commended, to the consideration• uf 17 "*$ uno quarterly' meetings. 17 The report on public morals was presented ■by m tho Rev. T. J: Wallis Wd g adoptod. This inoluded reference to an t7 emphatio protest against tho salo of liquor in tho King Country, and the pro- -- posal.to allow liyuor canteens in voluni; t«er camps, and rejoiced in the- success c, of the protests. A resolution was passed I. expressing gratification at tho assurance 1. that tho licenses in the King Country e- will be cancelled during the year, and at 1- the increasing tomperanca sentiment' a. throughout tho Dominion. Tho resolu- '• tion regarding gambling declared the totnlisator to bo the nursery of tho gambling propensity, and that the licensed bookmakers has' becomo a greater' evil' :o than-evcrj-that the totalisator, the book- -- maker, and Tattersalls required new and s, more drastic "legislation for their suppres>d sion. Sabbath desecration was deplored is in a special resolution, and its strict ob- -- scrvanco urged upon tho churches, d The second reading of stations takes 0 place to-morrow morning, after which tho separation debate will tako place.