WESLEYAN METHODIST DISTRICT MEETING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4147, 28 November 1870, Page 3

WESLEYAN METHODIST DISTRICT MEETING.

The following was accidentally omitted from ouv issue of Saturday last : — The annual district meeting of the Wesleyan ministers in the north of New Zealand commenced on Tuesday last. The sittings began in the High-street Church, and have been resumed daily in the Pitt-stveet school-room. The affairs of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, from Taranaki northward, are brought under view, and reports are prepared, and recommendations are submitted for the approval of the ensuing Conference. As the business is all transacted in a conversational manner, and in answer to certain definite questions annually submitted, we can only present our readers with a condensed report of the proceedings. There were present, besides the Rev. J. Buller (Chairman), the Rev. Messrs. Hobbs, Wallis, Warren, Buttle, Laury, Rigg, Schnackenberg, Gittos, Rowse, Crump, Smith, Berry, Law, and. Simmonds. Tne sittings have been held daily, from 9to 1, each sitting beginning with singing, reading the Scriptures, and prayer. It was found, upon inquiry, that no minister had died during the year, and that there were no cases for the exercise of discipline arising from the character, conduct, or teaching of any minister present. The moral and doctrinal purity of the Methodist ministry is carefully guarded, by an annual inquiry on each of these points, in the case of every minister. It was decided that the name of Mr. Jaggar, together with those of Messrs. Hudson and Worker, be placed upon the list of the ministers duly authorised to solemnise marriages in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Church within their respective districts. The two probationers, the Rev. Messrs. Law and Simmouds, preached trial sermons on Wednesday evening, in the presence of ministers deputed to hear them. They were examined in theology and general literature on Thursday morning. Aa the usual four years' term of probation has not expired in either case, both remain on trial for the presinfc. The Chairman stated to the meeting that he had received official intimation of the sailing for New Zealand of four Wesloyan minister 1 ?. They left London in the ' City of Auckland ' in the middle of September, and may be expected to arrive here next month. One in for Auckland, another for Coroniandel, and two for the South. The news of their coming was an occasion of }oy, as the need for more labour has long been deeply felt. The following list of ministers' stations for the ensuing year is recommended for the adoption of Conference : — Auckland : The Reva. C. W. Tlicfg 1 , Rev. J. Berry (Grafton Road), and one from England ; supernumeraries — the Rev. J, Hobbs and Rev. H. H. Lawry. Thames : Roy. J. Buller, and one from England for Coromaudel, New Plymouth : The Rev. J. Crump. Raglan: The Rev. C. H. Sehnackenberg. Otahuhu : The Rev. J. Smith ; supernumeraries — the Rev. Messrs. Wallis, Warren, and Buttle. Waiulm : Rev. J. H. Simmonda. Kaipara : Rev. W. Gittos. Whaugaroi : To be visited I quarterly, under, the direotkm of the Rev. |J. Buller. Hokianga : Rev. W. Rowse, Mahurangi : A oatochist. Kaukap&kapa : A catechist;. Waikato : Rev. J. Law. — A petition waa unanimously signed for presen* tation to the Provincial Council praying them to reconsider the Act by which they propose to exclude all religious teaching from the Government schools of this province, and to leave the teaching of religion or otherwise under the exclusive control of the committee of each school. — The following was the plan of appointments for the Home Mission sermons in and around Auckland yesterday ;— Pitt-street : Morning, Rev. J. Buller; evening (special sermon to the young), Rev. C W. Rigg. High-street : Morning, Rev. J. Smith ; evening, Rev. J. Law. Grafton-road : Morning, Rev. J. Berry ; evening, Rev. W. Rowse. Parnell : Morning, Rev, j. Hobbs ; evening, Rev. J. Smith. Mount Albert : Rev. J . Warren, at 1 1. Whau Road : Afternoon, Rev. J, Warren. North Shore : Rev. W. Rowse. at 11. Shortland and Grahamstown : Rev. J. Crump, Rev, W, Gittos. Onehunga : Morning, Rev. C. W. Rigg ; evening, Rev. C. H. Schnackenberg. Otahuhu : Morning, Rev. H. H. Lawry j evening, Rev. J. H, Simmonds. Mangere : Rev. J. H. Simmonds, at 11. Woodaide : Rev. .T. H. Simmonds, at 3 p.m. — The sittings are to be resumed on Monday morning. This (Monday) evening the public Home Mission meeting will be held at Pitt-street ; and on Tuesday evening the Rev. J. Hobbs will p*each, in the same church, an official sermon to the ministers attending the district meeting, and the public. _______________

The Wellington Independent says that the case James Stoith, auctioneer, v. Joseph MeGifferfc Cleland, Molesw-orth-street, for malicious libel, has been set down for trial, by Mr. -Justice: Johnston "for the 16fch of pcaatflbir^ia Honor taring Rllow«a tvipcciiii