WESLEY AN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7788, 6 November 1886, Page 3

WESLEY AN DISTRICT MEETING.

The Annual Auckland Distriot Meeting of the Wesley an Church commenced its sessions at ten a.m. yesterday, in the upper schoolroom, Pitt-street, The following ministers were present: Rev. Henry Ball, President of the Conference, in the chair; Revs. A. Reid, H. R. Dewsbnry,; C. H. Garland, R. Bavin, T. G. Carr, J. Wallis, W. Worker, J. Whewell, W. Gittos, C. E. Barley, E. Best, 0. Dean, J. A. | Taylor, W. J. Watkin, S. Lawry, J. 8. Rishworth, J. Dellow, J. J. Mather, G. Stephenson, T. F. Jones, T. G. Brooke, T. ({. Hammond, G. T, Marshall, J. Dukes, S. Griffith, W. E. Birks, S. Buohauan, J. W. Griffin. Devotional exeroises Here then conducted, Rev. J. A. Taylor reading a portion of Soripture, and Revs. B. Best and W. J, Watkin offering prayer. Rev. H. H. Dewsbury was eleoted seoretary, Rev. 0. H. Garland assistant secretary, and Rev. J. Dukes, journal secretary. Hev. W. J. Watkin was appointed reporter to the Press, and Rev. T. G. Carr to the New Zealand Methodist. Rev. R. Bavin was elected precentor. A dispensation was granted to Rev. H. EL Lawry, who was unable to be present. The Chairman then delivered the following address —Fathers and Brethren, —By the grace and favour of God we are permitted to assemble in our annual meeting of tho Auckland district. There has been no thinning of our ranks by death, nor has any brother been incapacitated for active duty by sickness during the year. For this we render thanks to oar Heavenly Father, the bountiful Giver of all good. Daring the year a venerable minister of the New South Wales Conference has passed to his reward in the skies, Father Watkin, to whom I refer, was the oldest minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australasia, . the term of his ministry dating from 1830. His earnest and successful labours in the Friendly Islands, in New Zealand, and in Australia will not soon be forgotten. Mount Watkin in the South Island marks the scene of bis labours among the Maoris of Otago j but a more enduriDg mark of his work will be found in the spiritual seals of his ministry in many lands. By the deoeaae of Father Watkin, the Auckland distriot enjoys the distinction . of having within its bounds th,e most vener» %hl» minister of the Australasian Church. We are heartily glad to have Father Wallis with us this morning, and to observe in him such a large measure of mental and physioal vigour in this the 54th year of his ministerial career and we trust that he may long be spared to live and labour with us. There are three ministers who have oome to this distriot by appointment of the last Confer* ence—Revs. J. S. Rishworth, C. H. Garland, &nd Oliver Dean. To these brethren we present a cordial fraternal welcome. During the year I have, as ohairman of the district, visited the following distant circuits, viz, : Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Thames, Coromandel, Paparoa, Mahnrangi, Whangarei, Bay of Islands, and Whangaroa. While the oommeroial depression is undoubtedly felt in every part of the distriot, there are not wanting in all our circuits and ohurches manifest signs of spiritual vitality and progress. In the attainment of this result we thankfully recognise the valuable cooperation of our local preachers and class-leaders. By the labours of the former a large amount of aggressive work is accomplished, while by the personal religious oversight exercised by our leaders the work is oonserved and the edification of the Churoh promoted, By returns that will be laid before you it will be seen that, notwithstanding deep oommeroial depression, there has been considerable material progress in the church work of the distriot during the year. An extension, which we believe will prove of great value in the more efficient prosecution of our varied operations in Auckland, is now in progress at the rear of the Pitt-street Church. Qur work at the Thames has received a considerable impetus during the year by the completion of the central Churoh movement. By the timely sale of part of the old Grahamstown site, the trustees have been able without much financial strain to complete the work of centralisation. The result is a oompact and oomplete ohurch and Sunday-school property. Stimulated by the liberality of Mr. S. Dixon, a handsome ohnrob has been erected free of debt hpon land pre* sented by that gentleman at Okaihau. A very neat and suitable edifice has also been erected at Kaeo, free of incumbrance, upon land kindly given by Mr.Holdsbip. A new chnroh has also been erected at Tuakau with » small debt During the year the district has been favoured with a visit from the oon* nexional evangelist, Rev. J. 8. Smalley. On aoosunt of the limited time at his disposal, it was found impossible to visit all the circuits. But we are thankful to say that, in those circuits where his special services have been conducted, his labours and those of his ooadjutors have been fruitful in spiritual quickening and salvation. The distriot has also been visited by Mr. James Wood, publisher of the New Zealand Methodist, in the interests of that paper. His visit was of an encouraging character, and a considerable number of additional subscribers have been secured for our connexional ohuroh organ. The recommendation of the committee appointed by last conference respecting the setting apart of the editor from circuit work will be laid before the meeting during the financial sessions. Also the report of the oommittee on the formation of a Church Social Purity and White Cross Society. The interests of the home mission fund will require careful attention. Most of the country oirouits return amounts equal to the sums allocated by conference, and some will forward returns in excess of the amount asked. But there will be, owing to the prevailing depression, speoial requests for consideration and grant* in aid for sustaining our church work in some of the smaller circuits during the next year. In dealing generously with such oases the value of this fund will be further proved. Oar Maori work has reoeived particular attention at tbe bands of Rev. W. Gittos. In addition to the Northern districts and Waikato, he has visited the scenes of the labours of our early missionaries in Taranaki. < Those labours are bearing fruit. The -natives are anxious that we should resume the closer connection of former days, and send an agent of the Church to reside and" .labour among them, This is only One. 'of - many doors we are invited to enter. I am happy to say that God ha* laid this . matter upon' the heart of a venerable brother who loves to devise and do liberal' things. thinks , that £1000 should be raised • to take ad vanI tage of these openings to benefit, the Maoris, \ and he, himself, is prepared to join with i others in a liberal contribution toward* this object. There are five Maori ministers' in this 1 district who have not yet received ordination, | though they have served tbe full time of pro > bation and passed the necessary examinations. ' After consultation with their Supsrinten-, I dents, we propose to recommend that snoh | : Maori ministers shall be exempt at- > tendance at this meeting, • but shall : be re--1 quired to be present at the annual conference , to receive, with the English ministers who ! will have completed their probationary ; course, the rite of ordination. There are ' five students for the ministry in residence [ at Wesley College, under the prinoipalship of the Rev. Alexander Reid. There are also twelve Maori scholars receiving tuition. 1 Full reports of the work during the year will be laid before the meeting. Thore are four | candidates for ordination in the distriot, and | also one student-candidate. These have completed their written examinations, and ! will undergo the usual viva voce examina- | tion in the course of the meeting. Let us ! pray to God, and look to Him that we may 1 experience tbe riches of Bis grace and bless- | ing during tbe sessions of this meeting, and i that we may hav largely bestowed upon ; us that heavenly wisdom which is profitable ' to direct. The hours of session were fixed as fol low* :— Morning, ten to half-past twelve afternoon, half-past two to five. It was arranged that the examination of the probationers of four years be conducted this morning, beginning at ten o'olock, ! Sunday services were settled by consultation among the superintendents of the ■ various oirouits. The ordinary course of business was pur- ' sued in answer to stated questions. The roll was called by the President, and was answered by 'Messrs. Wallis, Reid,. Whewell, 'Gittos, Watkin, Taylor, Rishworth, Bavin, Carr, Dewsbury, Hammond, y. Lawry, Worker, Dellow, Best, Brooke, Dukos, Garland, Griffith, Jones, Dean, Marshall, Mather, and Barley;' Four home ' misMonrrits were'present —Messrs. Stephenson, Griffin, Buchanan, and Berks. . A dispensation of absence was granted to Rev. H. H. Lawry, and also to four native ministers, who expect to be snmmoned for ordination ta the ensuing conference, to be

held in Auckland in January next, and who thereby cannot be sparod just now from their stations. Hamiora, Ngaropi is too old to attend. To him a letter of sympathy is to be written by the Rev. James Wallis. J It was reported that Hauraki Paul had recovered in great measure from the sad , calamity that had fallen upon him, and it was confidently hoped that with a year's reßt be will be able to resume his old duty in tbe Waikato. A letter of congratulation was ordered to be ; written to Hauraki by Mr. ! Hammond. Mr. Watkin offered himself for full work, after two years' rest, bis health having much i improved. He was unanimously recommended by his brethren to be so employed. Messrs, Wallis, Reid, Gittos, and Hammond, were appointed a committee for native affairs. In answer to Question 10, no minister offered for foreign mission work. The session closed at 12.80 p.m. AFTERNOON SESSION. ••Devotional exercises. Piayer by Mr. Hammond. Mr, Jones was appointed statistician on the nomination of the President. In reference to a proposition for a division of the tielensville District, it was resolved that a committee, consisting of the President, Revs, Gittos, Taylor, Bavin, and Dewsbury, be appointed to consider the proposed alteraand tions repot t on Monday afternoon. A resolution of a previous year, as to the appointment of a home missionary at Huntly, was considered, but it was not reckoned advisable to reaffirm the proposition. It was proposed that the President visit the distriot, and learn all possible about the plaoe, and report to next distriot meeting. A letter to the president from a gentleman, bearing upon the spiritual destitution of the Rotorua people was read by the seoretary to the meeting. It evoked considerable remark. The president agreed to visit that part ,of the oountry, taking in Lichfield and Oxford. Mr. Rishworth engaging to drive him there. It was reported that registers of baptisms and marriages are kept carefully in every oirouit and Home Mission Station. A letter from Dr. Bond, as secretary of the Auckland Branoh of the Medioal Society, was read, bearing upon burials. The receipt of the letter to be acknowledged by the secretary. The next subjeot was that of the removal of a Maori minister from the Hokianga distriot to WanganuL After long discussion it was deotded that Mr. Gittos visit Hokianga to arrange the matter,. A letter from the ohuroh offioials at Mercury Bay, asking that the visits of the Home missionary should be fortnightly was put in, and it was resolved that >t be an instruction to the students at Three Kings to visit Coromandel onoea month, to enable the wish of the friends at Meroury Bay to be met. Exports of sermons were read respecting the following students: Messrs. Burrows, Fellows, Laws, and Chapman. The mutter is to be resumed.