METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7401, 1 March 1902, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(PER PEEBS ASSOCIATION.) I Dunbdin, February 27. | At the Methodist Conference, several j committees were set up to deal with the business coming before the Conference. The report on church property, presented by Dr Morley, showed that considerable activity had been shown in dealing with church property in several parts of the colony. Ten new churches had been erected and four others enlarged, fourteen additional sites acquired, one schoolroom and one gymnasium erected, the total cost of erections and enlargements being JE6295, and minor improvements JE794. The debts reduction (net) during the year was JE5616, largely through subscriptions to the Century Fund. The Oamaru church was specially mentioned in this connection. The percentage of debt for the whole colony is 13.6 per cent, very much lower than in the other colonies. A discussion took place regarding the erection of a gymnasium at Wanganui, objection being taken to building without the sanction of the Loan Fund Committee being first obtained. Approval was given to the proposals of the trustees of the Grey Institute, New Plymouth, regarding leasing the property. Dunbdin, February 28. It was decided to appoint a Home Missionary at Eltham, with a suitable grant, but the request for an additional Home Missionary for New Plymouth was declined. Dunedin, February 28. The Wesleyan Conference, in its ministerial session, reports on the work of the probationers dealt with, and the following were passed in their respective years: — Messrs Beckett, Keall, Wills, Blamires, Haslam, Scotter, Tuck, and i Wilson. j It waa decided to accept the transfer of tbe Rev. Wallis from New South Wales. Tbe Rev. Mr Barton was recommended for foreign mission work. ■ The Rev. Mr Harrison was granted permission to visit England. A similar request from the Rev. Mr Frost was deferred. Tbe Rev. Mr Chappell was granted one year's relief from ministerial work to complete his University course. The Rev. Mr Pract (Victoria) was accepted. At the afternoon session, a resolution was adopted, expressing sympathy with the relatives of the members of the Seventh Contingent who lost their lives in the recent disaster. The motion was carried by a silent vote, jthe members standing.Fraternal greetings were received from the Primitive Methodist Conference, and a suitable acknowledgment sent. Huntly was constituted a home mission station. It was decided to appoint a probationer at Tauranga, instead of a married minister. It was reported that arrangements had been made for periodical visits to the Kawhia district. It was to appoint a missionary for the Pelorus Sound district. A grand sacred concert was held this evening in Trinity Church, and' was largely attended by members of the Conference.