WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7161, 29 October 1884, Page 6

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The annual district meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the Auckland district met in the Pitt-street Church yesterday, morning at ten o'clock, the Rev. R. Bavin in the chair. After devotional exercises, led by Revs. W. Gittos and J. A. Taylor, the Rev. H. Bull was elected Secretary, and Revs. T. G. Carr an.i J. Dukes AssistantSecretaries, and Rev. J. Dellow Precentor. The hours of session were fixed as follows :— Morning, half-past nine to a quarter to one ; afternoon, half-past two to five; evening (when necessary), seven to nine. The following were appointed a committee re Maori probationers for the ministry :—Revs. J. Wallis, W. J. Watkin, A, Reid, T. S. Hammond, and the Chairman of the district, to report on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. T. S. Hammond, convener. The oral examination of candidates for ordination at the approaching conference was fixed for VVednesday afternoon, to bo conducted by the Chairman. Arrangements were made for the annual Home Mission meeting in Pitt-streot on Wednesday evening. Speakers : Revs. A. Reid, Orakei Paul, T. 3. Hammond, W. Gittos, R. Bavin, J. Dellow, S. Lawry. Meetings were also arranged for at Onehunga and Remuera on the same evening. The roll of ministers and probationers was called by the Secretary, and nearly all were found present.—On the motion of Rev. J. A. Taylor, conference was recommended to accede to the request of the Rev. W. J. Watkin to become a supernumerary for

one year.—On the motion of Rev. S. Lawry, it was resolved that the case of the Knipara missionary, Rev. W. Gittos, who spoke of the difficulties in the way of working the mission efficiently, be remitted to the Committee on Native Probationers, to report on Wednesday afternoon. At tho afternoon session; after singing hymn 734, prayer was engaged in by the Rev. H. H. Lawry. The examination of ministerial character was resumed, and satisfactorily disposed of. Reports on trial sermons preached by ministers on probation and the several lists of books read during the year were submitted, the results proving satisfactory in neary every case. The following brethren were recommended to pass in their year, subject to the report of the board of examiners on the written examinations :— Revs. S. Griffiths, T. J. Wills, O. "Dean, G. T. Marshall. The consideration of these reports occupied the whole of the session. The Rev. E. Barber led in prayer at the commencement of the evening session. A conversation took place respecting several openings, which in the opinion of some of the ministers ought to be occupied. The further consideration of this subject was deferred until the financial session. Written reports were received respecting sermons delivered by the students in Wesley College, which were deemed very favourable. All students in training for the ministry were recommended to have a third year at college. Owing to pressure of business it was resolved to dispense with the annual visit to tho Three Kings Institution for this year. The meeting adjourned till half-past nine thiß morning.