WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5434, 22 January 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

WESLEYAN CONFERE NCE .

Thuksd\"\.— Mimimmj M rn no. The Pre-ident took the chair at 10 o' lock, and opened the p occcdmus by nivm.' out il v 428th hymn, after the singing ofwhiJi, 'lit Secretary read tho fourth chai^t i ot Philippiano, ind the llev. Messrs. lilts' aim Crump offered prayer. Tin? betntf tno day appointed for tbe transaction of financnl business, tho Secretary read the nimesof 42 Iaymenibois €»f tin connection xl committees throughout tin colony. Of theso tho following were present : Messrs. Prune, T. Buddie, Wiseman, Wilson, Allen, Hntt'o, Kdarn, Luc.is, T. Allen, Hobbs, (Infhth Stone, White »nd ri\oiotr. The Rev Mi. .Vorley movtd th.it th evening sitting be devote J. to a review of the ■tate of tho churches. IIu thought th s ■abject would pos&esa more intenst Urn, . financial questions to such of tho public <ib might attend, and would bo a relief to tin members of the Conference. -This was not seconded owing to the pressure of financial business Mr. K. Lucas read the balance-sheet of the Ministers' Children's Fund, which show til receipts to the aim unt of £4SG 7s. 91. and claims to the amount of £G(j2 Sj 3 1., thus leaving a balance of £17*1 01. duo to th< New Zealand Conference from tho general fund in Auatialia. Mr. Lucas moved the adaption of the balance-sheet- seconded by Mi. St me, and carried. Mr. Edson asked if tho fund was in a heilthy atat<\ — The- i'\-1Vmi 1. nl, icp'id that it was not in to hi alt by a state as could be desired, it having been found ntccs>saiy to reduce the scale of a lowanceu. The Rev. Mr. Kirk moved a vote of thanks to the treasurer, the Kev. T. Build ', and Mr. K. Lucas, and that tiny bo reappointed.—Seconded by Mr. Griffith*, and carried. The Secretary read tho standing orders on the 8ubji ct of this fund, in onb l to a-cei - tain if the rul<s had «« iu rally bom compli-u With —The <x-Prc8id<nt atati d that, B.-vinl district meetings Jiad leeommt inb d th.it local treasurers and "eno'anei i-hniiM be dispensed with. He would give notice of motion to that tff.ct-.— 'I he I ie-n!cnt re.ul the rulo on the sul jeer., and fuitl ei di t us •ion was post) oued. The ex-President asked if it were not necessary to take up statistics f»r the adjustment of the ratts for next yenr. — The Ber. Mr. Morley road the utatibtics and corresponding cl urns. r The Kev. Mr. Rigg read the balance sheer of the fund for the tdueation of ministers' children, tho total receipts of which were £148 7-. lid.— 1 ho Kev. Mr. Rign moved and Mr. Edson i«ppond« d, the adoption of the balance sheet, which was cirricd. The Rev Mr. lVrry mo\ed a, v<>to of thanks to the Rev. Mr. l'i<><> and Di. Bur rows, the treasurer*, and their rcappmntment.—Seconded by Mr. Stone and cirned. — The Secretary read tho standing ordeis with reference to this fund. Mr. Prime read tho balance sheet of the fund for the ma.ntcniiKO of aged and disaabled ministers, and ministers' widows. The total receipts on bchaltoHhis fund wire £693. Mr. Prime moved the adoption of this balance-iheet.— Seconded by the Kev. Mi. Bavin, and carried. The Rev. Mr. Fitchett called attention to the defective it»te of last year's 1 alance ■heet, ai printed in the minutes — The Kev. Mr. Ripg thought the balance sheet on slit to ■how the amount of claims. — The Secretary explained that the claimants transact their buiinem directly with the general eecretary in Melbourne. The Rev. Mr. Crump moved a vote of thanks to the treasurers Mr. Prime and the Rev. Mr. Reid, and that they be re-appoints! —Seconded by Mr T. Buddie, and carried. The Rev. Mr. Reid lead tho biNnce■heet of the Home and Maori Mission Fund forfhe Auckland district, the total mcomo of which was £859 Is 2 1, against an expenditure of £83G, leaving a balance on hand of £23 Is 2d.— The Kev. Mr. Mori, y thought that with respect to this fund a distinction should be made between the amounts raided on Mission stations by Maoris and Euro peans. — The Secretary exi< aiuod th it tho Home and Maori Mission work was united on oeveral of the stations. — The ex ■ President thought that in the case, at least, of tho Kaipara station, a regular circuit should be formed ; the contri butions being thrown into the oircuit fund, and any reinainint; deliciency supplied by srrnnt from the Home and Maoii Mi sion toid. Tne Secretary read the balance-sheet of the Taranaki and Wangnnui District ITorne Mission Fund, and of the Maori an I Foie gn Miision Fund for the same district- — "I'tie income of the former amounted to £2G1 5>., and that of tho la'ter t - £22 12s. 10 1., Hit whole of which sums were expeiide I duiing the past year. The ex President wished to call tl e atten tion to tho minutes r>f tho C aif' r^nce respecting the apprnpri *tic n of the proceeds of a property known as th« " Kaiiwi farm." The Taranakt district meeting nipsaicd to have paid no attention to this m.n'jte. After Bome further discussion, thoR'V. Mr. Fitc'u tt mored that tho action of the district ectin^; be brought into accordance With the flonf-Tt nC3 ro Milationi as dcsciibed on page 18 of the printed minutes. — Carried. The Sen etary read the balance-sheets of the following funds :— Wellington District Home Mission Fund : Income, £145 lla 7d ; balance in hand, £1 L7a 10d. "Wellington Maori and Foreign Mission Fund :— Income, £87 18s lOd; balance in hand, £2 4a lOd. Nelson Home Mission Fund :— Incomo, £56 lls Gd ; expenditnie ditto. Nelson Maori and.Foreign Mission Fund : — Income, £27 13s 6fl ;* expenditure, ditto. Canterbury District Home Mission Fund -.--Income, £2i3 8s Pd ; expenditure, ditto. Canterbury Maori and Foreign Mission Fund :— Income, £97 3s ; expenditure, ditto Otago District Homo Mission Fund :— Income, £92 12s Gd ; deficiency, L'20. Otago Maori and Foreign Mission Fund: — Income, £10 2s lOd, expenditure ditto. Tho Secretary moved that these balance-sheets be adopted and printed in the Conference minutes.— Seconded by Mr. Griffith, and carried. Mr. Edson moved, "That before tho assembling of next Conference, the statements contained in the district balance-sheets be printed and distributed among tho membeis of the C'onncctional Committee."— Seconded by Mr Lucas, and cai ried. Tho Rev Mr. Moiloy read the balancesheet of tho Contingent Fund, which shewed a total income of 13-18 10a Gd, and an expenditure of £237 17a «5d, leaving a balance on hand of il 10 19s Id. Tho Kev Mr Morley moved tho adoption of this balance sheet. — Seconded by the Rev. Mr. Richardson, and carried. lhe Secretary read Question XXI, viz., 11 What are the resolutions of the Conference respecting the Church and other trust pio perty ?" The Rev Mr. Crump read the report and schedules, which gave the following »e'ieij>l results -. — Entire cost of properties, C7O,27"> debt increased duiing the year, £4,230 ; debt increased, £127; pnsent debt, £H,ly-, amount insured, £33,705; cost of insuiance £262. Tho Rev. Mr. Morley moved the adop'ion of the report The Rev. Mr. Bavin objected, on the ground that, as Mr Ciump hid rern irked, the estimates had not boon completed in all particulars. .. _, , ,. The Rev. Mr. Beiry moved, "That the thanks of the ConfouM.cc be presented to th. Rev Mr. Crump, and tint he bo ro api-oinhd to complete the woik which he had so well commenced " •,.,■. The Rev. Mr. Crump suggested that some aswBtrnce be rendered at the South Ho would be glad of any suggestions for more

complete inclination than that brought out in the .schedule. 'JhoRev. Mr. Taylor suggested that each Oirmit sends a aopaiate schedule The Hev. Mr. Fit:hctt thought the bulk of the -vvoi k had been done, and that it ought not to be taken out of Mr. Clump's hands, but lift for him to complete. 'I lit Conference adjourned at 1 o'clock. '

A] TKRNOOV SITTINO The 42Glh hymn was sung, and the Rev. \ii. I U\ in engaged in prayer. 'Jhe l!ev. Mr. Taylor icad the report of the committee for the consideration of expenses chargeable on the Confingont Fund The various items recommended, ui^lio irpoifc were then declared seriatim TJic lu^t it. in Mas that of travelling expenses to the Conference.—The committee retonimoii.Ud that the expenses of all ministcis appointed to attend by the district meetings be «Inig d upon this fund, anil not moiely those of the official representatives. The Rev. Mr. Fitchett stated that there existed a very general desire to sa\c tins tunil as much as possible, for the puipose of -.ectiunq tull repiescntation at the (iencial Conference. 'Iheio was n fear lest the General Conference should become an oligarchy, and it was deemed advisable to secure that this should not be. Hut any at lion in this direction must not be taken at the expense of the efheiency of the annual Conference He would mo\c, " That m addition to the oflicial 1 epreaentatives, Canterbury should send two members, Auckland two, and the other districts one each."—A lengthy discussion followed in lcgard to the means of meeting the expenses of rcpicaentation at the annual Conferences. ThcJiev. Mr. Bciry moved "That only the expenses of the ehaiiiutn and other ollicial representatives be chaigcd upon the ( ontingent Fund."—Seconded by the Rev. Mr. Rigg. The Hcv. Mr. Crump suggested that theie bo the hugest possible leprcscnlation under the picscnt le\y. 'Jhe I x-1'iesidcnt deprecated the passing of any nieasura that would limit the numLcrs attending the annual Conieicnccs. ■ he I!cv. Mr. Berry's motion w as then put and can led. The item of expenses to the Gcncial Confci ence was passed. The Rev. Mr. Kichardson gave notice of motion that the expenses of ollicial leprescntativca to the Geneial Cocfeience be bome by the General Confei ence. The Rev. Mr. Higg moved, "That the chan man's travelling expenses to the Gencial Confeience bo a thai go upon the Home Mission fund." —C.vrncd. The Riv. Mr Kife'g mo\ed, "That an unifurm levy Jx> made upon : II cncuits as heretofore." Mr. T. Allen niovtd as an amendmint, "That tho basis of the calculation be tho number of meinljers in eaeli eucuit." — This was pcconr'el liy the ex-Piesident, who stated tho ol'jict for nuch change to bo that of of-cuiing j_it.ater equality. — The Rev. Mr. Kirk thought the proposed change would not remedy the present inequality. —The Rev. Mr. Taylor thought it would b-i unwise- to meddle with aa arrangement which had been generally accepted !>y tho en cult". —The onginal motion was putaud c uncd. The Kecietary moved a vote of thanks to tho tieasurtis of this fund, aud that they ho ro appointed — Seconded by the Hot. Mr. Bavin, and carried. The Rev. Mr. Fitchett moved, "That camliddttis who have passed tho district inc.(.tings have their exp<nses paid out of tho contingent fund." —Seconded by Mr. E linn, —Tho motion was put and negatived. The Coiifmnce proceeded to consider in detail the proposals to sell c rtain Church propirties. —A lengthy enquiry and discussion took place, af ei which the various ad(httioiiH to conncctional property, in erections Mid repairs to churches, &c., were conside it d. Tho Conference then passed on to investigate applications for new erections and other propostd responsibilities during the (onnng year. The Conference then adjourned till half-past seven.