THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 218, 26 February 1870, Page 5

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The 16th Annual Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Churches commenced its sittings in Adelaide, on Jan. 20. Considerable interest was displayed in the nomination of President for the year 1870. The votes wore as follows: —Rev. S. Rabone, 1 ; Rev, T. Williams, 1 ; Rev. R. Chapman, 12; Rev. J. Watsford, 22. The announcement was received with loud applause, and the successful candidate returned thanks to the Conference for the honor conferred upon him. The application of the Rev. J. Cawdell for admission as a member of the Australian Conference was at first declined, on account of the difficulty of providing for married ministers, the rule of the Church being that no minister shall be married until ho has served four years. Mr. Cawdell’s proposal was afterwards accepted, he having offered to serve three years as a probationer, there being a distinct understanding that his daughter should have no claim on the Children’s and Education Funds. Before the closing of the Conference, the following resolution was adopted “ That this Conference is of opinion that it would tend to the promotion of the work of God, and the extension of Methodism in the rapidly rising Colony of New Zealand, to form it into a separate Conference ; and strongly recommends that the whole question be considered by the next Annual District Meeting, with a view to bringing the matter before the attention of the next conference, so that we may see our way to recommend this important change to the British Conference.” The following are the stations of the ministers and preachers on trial in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in New Zealand for 1870: ' Northern District. Auckland.- Charles W. Rigg, Joseph,Berry— One from England : John Hobbs, Henry H. Lawry, supernumeries. ... Sl>orHand. —James Duller, who shall change once in each quarter with the Ministers of the Auckland Circuit; and one from England. Taranaki. —Hamiora Ngaropi, Native Missionary. New Plymouth.— John Crump. v Raglan, Aotea, and Kaivhaia. —CortH. Schnackenberg ; Wiremu Patene, Native Missionary. Otahuhu. —John Smith; James Wallis, John Warren, George Buttle, Supernumeraries. . Waiuku. —John Law. Kaipara and Wairoa. —William Gittos ; Hoani Waite, Native Missionary. Whangarei. —One requested. Hokianga. —William Bowse. Mahuranga. —A Catechist. Waikato.— Joseph H. Siinmouds. Middle District. Nelson. —William J. Watkin, James A. Taylor, {Richmond). Motueka. —William G. Thomas. Blenheim. —J. B. Richardson. Westport. —One wanted. Wellington. —Thomas Buddie, George S. Harpur, (Hutt). Greytoicn. —James A. Cawdell. Wanganui. —William Morley; George Stannard, Supernumerary. Rangitikei. —Under the supervision of the Superintendent of the Wanganui Circuit. Napier.■ —One wanted. Southern District. Christchurch. William Kirk, Alfred R. Fitchett, —One to be sent. Springton. —William Olliver. Kaiapoi. —Robert S. Bunn, William H. Beck. Dunedin. —Alexander Reid, H. Dewsbury. Port Chalmers. —Henry Bull. Waikowaite. —David M'Nicholl. Lawrence. —William Keall, who shall change once in each quarter with the Minister of the Dunedin Circuit. Hoghurn. —To be supplied. Timaru. Rainsford Bavin ; one to be sent. (Geraldine). Invercargill. —John S. Rishworth. Camara. —William Lee. Hokitika. —Joseph T. Shaw; one to be sent (Ross) Greymouth. —William Cannell. Chatham Islands, —Hetaraka Wariki, Native Missionary.