WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4373, 18 November 1875, Page 3

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

SECOND DAY. ' I

In addition to the ministers whose names! were published yesterday,"'there were pre-! sent yesterday the Revs. J:,Whewell (Auckland), R. S. Bunn (Coromandel), and Hone! Waiti (Kaipara). The firat business taken was the statistical returns from the various Circuits in the district, the totals of whichwere given as Work Churches, 31; other'preaching-places, 40 ministers, 14; catechists, 2; local preachers,! 42; class leaders, 37 ; full Church members,! 615; on-trial for-Church membership, 102 j catechumens, 45 ; Sunday-schOols, 28 ; Sun-j day-school teachers, 214; Sunday-school scholars, 1987; attendants on public 5288. 11. Maori Work:. Churches, ,10; other preaching places, 43; ministers, "; catechists, 2 ; local' 31; class-i leaders, 20 ; full Church members, 392 ; on trial for Church membership, 58; catechu? mens, 32; Sunday-schools, 21 ; Sundayschool teachers, 26 ; Sunday-school scholars! 810 ; day-schools, 3 ; day, scholars, 46; at-! | tendants oh public worship, 2534. At the suggestion of the chairman, the reading of the above statistics was followed by a conversation -on the state of the work of God in the district. In Auckland but littlfe increase .noticeable in the number of membere, owing-to the fact-that while Several had'joined the Church, not a few otherp had been struck off the roll as having forfeited the claim ..to • membership. Still the Church presented features of a most hopeful-. and encouraging character. The congregai- : tions were improved, and the income from' all ' sources had increased: - J The ' Sundayschools were generally in a flourishing condition, and the liberaUty of the young people in contributing upwards of £40 to the mission during the past year was worthy of special • commendation. ■At the Thames, amid much that was discouraging in temporal surroundings, the spiritual 'condition of the Church was such as to elicit thankfulness and'hope. The series of special services that had been held had resulted in from.forty.to fifty cases of conversion. The week-night services were capablo of improvement, being seriously interfered with by meetings for other purposes. Still " Thank God, and take courage," was the jubilant note of the representative from the goldfields. From the Otahuhu circuit the report was that the congregations were good, and the religiotis feeling was, steady, although nqt oversowing. The Sunday-schools were thriving, and the' week-night services were well attended. Fresh ground had been broken in, the Lower Waikato, in which'the'prospects were encouraging. Coromandel had to tell of poverty and paucity of members, and conse-. quent up-hill work. Tokens' of good, however, were not wanting, and during a recent visitation of illnesß there were visible the beneficial Tesuits of the outstretching of God's chastening hand. Wangapoa had been visited, and the services there had been prized;' The "Waikato circuit, in congregations, membership, and finances, gave cheering signs of improvement. The class meeting was in some places highly appreciated, and everywhere there was a deepenied interest inthg services. The; pleasing statement was submitted that for the first time in its history the circuit had become wholly self-supporting.- In -Raglan prosperity was visible both in the English and Maori work. The settlers had much appreciated the services iof thes-reaident • missionary,: and the native ministers had met with much to encourage them in their labours. Loud was their complaint at the obstruction they met with in the prevalence of drunkenness; but for that they would have reported greater success. The Kaipara report was more than usually. good. The year had heen ono of prosperity in all departments. A deepened spiritual feeling had resulted in an extension of God's work, and there had been several cases of happy conversion. Attention had been given to Church organisations, and everywhere there had been signs of progress. The contributions to the support of the Ministry had come in in about equal proportions from the Europeans and the Maoris. Hokianga reported general improvement throughout the circuit m the face of peculiar trials and difficulties. Whangaroa, the youngest circuit in the district, could not boast of much progress. The population was small, scattered, and fluctuating, and the work could only be prosecuted in the face of great difficulties. It was hoped, however, that good was being accomplished, and that the fruit of the labour devoted to this pi ace would be found if but after many days. The remainder of the session was devoted to preparation for the financial districtmeeting of the following day.