WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10214, 7 December 1893, Page 2

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETINGS.

ANNUAL SESSION. The business of the meeting was resumed in the church at Ashburton, yesterday morning, Routine matters occupied the attention of t’ao members during the forenoon sitting, and in the afternoon the lay official:! wore associated with the ministers. Representatives wore present from the following circuits : —Sydenham, Meecro 11. Jlonuington and W. J. Rudd ; Sfi Alfaana, Me D, Patchett; Lyttelton, Mr G, Jenkins ; Spring,'Ton, Mr vV. Lawry; Lsento;), Mr G. C. Waby ; Kaiapoi, Mr G, H. Blackwell; Wooclend, Mr T,' Wilson; Timaru, Mr 0. Holdgate; Waimate, Mr W. Hunt; Ashburton, Messrs W. if, Collins p.ud H. Fr.amp ton; Malvern, Mr J. Thompson. Messrs W. Harris (Conncxioual Secretary's Office), R. Dawson (Secretary of Church Property), and Mr S. Rapley (Homo Missionary) were also present.

The Chairman gave ‘ a very hearty welcome to the laymen who were present. Ho indicated the several matters of business to be dealt with, drawing especial attention to the question o? Methodist Union, Society of Christian Endeavour, and general ecnerintendeatß. The following erections and additions to church buildings were reported:—Horrelville, church enlargement, cor.t £47, debt •CIS; Sonthbiook, new organ, cost £25; Aohburton, removal of cburch, erection of schoolroom and vestries, cost £5lO, additional debt, J32BS; Willowby, church enlargement with 60 (sittings, cost .£167, no debt; Greenetreet, new church coating 100, coat £207, debt £42, Sanction was given to erect a church at Bussell’s Flat to cost £9O. A section for a church site had been purchased at Cheviot. The following amounts were received from the several circuits on behalf of the Home Mission Fund : Christchurch (Durham street) £IOO, (St Albans) £SO, Sydenham £lO 14s 9d, Lyttelton £25, Bpringetoa £25 8s lOd, Leeston £3O, Kaiapoi £27 7a Id, Wocdend and AmberIcy £l9 110, Eaagiora £24, Timaru £65 13r 7d, Waimate £lO, Temafea £lO, Ashburton £4O, Malvern £4 16s, Methvan £2 isßd; total £471 2s lid. It waa etatad that tho estimated income for ne-st year from circuits was £487, with £7O from investments.

Mr E. Dawson, Secretary of Church Property, presented big report. The principal items of income were—Seat rents £772 4s, trust collections £315 14" 10d, anniversary services £455 T9'-, donations £GOS 9s 7d, loans .-2413 8j 9d, other income .£760 Is 4d; total income £3482 11a 9d. Espanditure—Lighting, &c. £578 la lid, repairs .£204 14s 7d, enlargements .£909 Os 6d, interest on loans £441 18s 3d, insurance £lB4 16a Id, paid to Circuit Boards £2O 2s Bd, other expenditure (including loans reduced) £1093 9a 7dj total expenditure £3853 ’ 13s 2d. ' Debts remaining— To loan fund £1747 8s Gd; other securities £6240, debt reduced £247 17s 4d, amount insured £32,000. A grant of £25 was recommended for tho Methven home mission station, and £l3 for Malvern circuit. It was also decided to recommend a grant of £35 to Temnka, on condition that tho entire circuit debt should bo liquidated. Mr Rapley ( Rome Missionary) presented a report b£ his work in the Methven district during tho past year. A warm discussion took place on tho question remitted by General Conference, viz., the appointment of general superintendents. On the motion of the Rev P. W. Pairclough, it was resolved —"That this meeting is of opinion that the time i» inopportune for such a change in the constitution of tho Church as that involved in a general supeEintenccncy, because (1) of the present great financial stringency, and (2 j in view of the negotiations in progress for Methodist Union.” An amendment, moved by the Rev H. E. .Dewsbury, affirming the principle of such appointments, but declaring the time' to bo inopportune, was lost by two votes. fpEB Pjbess Association, j KELSON, Dec. G, The Wesleyan district meeting unanimously passed resolutions in favour o: the Irish text-book in public schools, the discontinuance of the conference lecture unless the same be made official, and in favour of Methodist union. DUNEDIN, Dec. G, At the Wesleyan district meeting to-day it was decided, on tho motion of, tho Rev J. A. Lux ford, to express pleasure at the way tho Eev P. W. Pairclongh baa performed his editorial duties, and to request Conference to reappoint him as editor of the New Zealand Methodist. „ ■