WESLEYAN CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10079, 14 March 1896, Page 3

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE

MINISTERIAL SESSION. The Conference resumed business yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, in ministerial session,..proceedings being opened by the Rev. D. McNicoll (ex-President); after wbich the President (Rev. Baumber) took the chair. ■

FINAL READING (ft STATIONS. The final draft of stations as drawn up by the Stationing Committee was read by the Secretary, but was sent back to the committee to reconsider a number of suggestions and recommendations made by the Conference re' appointments, the Conference temporarily adjourning meanwhile. The draft list was again submitted at the afternoon session, the Stationing Committee not approving of a number of the suggestions thrown out by the Conference. After further considering other suggestions re stations the draft was finally approved of as under:— 1. Auckland District.—Auckland, Pitt-Street, Henry Bull, Ponsonby; William J. Williams, Pittstreot; a. Peters, Thomas W. Vealie, K. Best (supernumerary); Freeman's Bay Mission, William A. Mnclair; Wesley College, Three Kill's, Native Institution, Joseph H. Slmraonds; Auckland, North Shore, John Crump; Auckland, Grafton lload. Henry K. Dewsbury, Arthur Mit«h«l!, H. H. I.awry (supernumerary). Hume Mission and Church Extension Fuml, William J. Williams, general secretary; Maori Mission, Auckland, William Gittos, who shall superintend the Maori work In the Auckland district; Mahtirangi, John W. Worboys, W. Worker (sui><*rn'iineraiy); Thames, Samuel J. Serpell; Upper Thames, .Samuel Griffith; Mannkau, S. I.awry, W. J. Watkiu and J. S. Rishworth (supernumeraries) ; Franklin, Frederick B. Oldham ; Cambridge, Lewis Hudson ; Hamilton and 'lq Awamutu, Joseph J. MUher; Paparoa, Benjamin F. Bothwell; Northern Wairoa, Samuel J. Gibson ; WhangaM, J. law ; Tauranga, Arthur Ashcroft; Coromandel, G. Frost; Maori Mission, W aikato, W1 Warena Pewa (Te K-pua), S.King; Maori Mission, Kaipara, Hauraki Paul; Maori Mission. Hokianga, Piripi Rakena (Mangamuka), Tuhi lleretini (Whirinakt); Raglan, Aoiea, and Kawliia; Bay of Islands, a home missionary (Kawakawa) 1 , Wliangaroa, a home missionary; Hokianga, a home missionary; Helensville, a home missionary; Wade, a home misiionary; chairman of the district, H. Bull. j Wanoanui District.—New Plymouth, Charles 1 H. Garland; Waitara, T. Francis Jones, H. L. Blamires (Inglewood); Stratford, W. S. Bowie; Ilawera, Charles 11. Laws; Opnnake, William Caiinell; Wanganui, George Bond; Kangitikei, James Thomas; Sandon and Feilding, William Heal), Colin C. Harrison; Palmerston (Broadstreet), William Leo, Thomas It. Richards (supply); Palmerston (Cuba-street), K. Quintrell ; Kiwitea, S. H. D. Peryman ; West Coast Mission, Thomas G. Hammond ; Mangaweka, a home missionary ; Maugawhero, a home missionary ; Chairman of the District, George Bond. Wellington District. — Wellington, William Baumber (president), Josiah Ward, A. B. Chappell; Wellington Central Mission, to be supplied, H. B. Redstone (supernumerary); Hult, Joseph H. Gray, one wanted (Ketone), W, Kirk (supernumerary); Qreytown, Samuel J. Garliok, one wanted, W. Rowbo (supernumerary); Masterton, J.S. Smalley; Napier, William H. Beck ; Hastings, J. Husking D.1).; Gisborue, Joseph Blight; F.ketahuna, 1.. B. Ryan; Otaki, W. Diwson ; Ormonilville and Danevirke, one to he sent; Waipawa, J. J. Pendray; Wondville, John Wrigley ; Pahiatua, J. W. Griffin; chairman of the district, the president. Nelson District.—Nelson, Samuel F. Prior; Richmond, George 0. Marshall; Blenheim, Thomas Fee; Maori mission, H. Warihi; Ilokitika, H. B. Ginger; Oreyniouth, George W. J. Spence ; Motueka, one to be sent; ltenfion, James T. Pinfold and one wanted; Westport, Samuel Potts ; Kumara, a home missionary; Havelock, ft home missionary ; chairman of the district, S. F. Prior. Canterbury District.-Chri»tchurch, Durhamstreet, David McNicoll, F. Whitmore I-itt, James T. Burrows, William J. Elliott, J. Smith (supernumerary) ;St. Asaph-street Mission, Charles Porter; Connexional Secretary, William Motley; Christchurch South, William G. Parsonsou, C. Penney, William Tinsley, Hugh Beta's, S. McFarlaue and J. Orchard (supernumeraries); Christchurch, St. Albans, John A. Luxford, H. W. Williams; Lytttlton, Daniel J, Murray; Springstou, Cornelius Griffin, Herbert Oraddock, A.; Ueston, Albeit K. Laivry; Kaiapoi, Paul W. Fairclough, William Grieg; Ranpora, T.G. Carr, John Dellow (Woodend); Oxfoid, George Hounsell; Amberley and Waikari, one to he sent; Timaru, Chares K. Beecroft ; John Dukes ; Teintika, Charles 11. Mandate; Asliburton, Thomas G. Brooke; Witlowby, Christopher Abernethy ; Malvern, Alfre I W. Akhcrofi; .Meth»en, one to be sent; Cheviot, a home missionary; Banks Penininsula, a home missionary; Chairman of the district, W. Morley. otago District.—Dnuedin, Trinity, John J. Lewis, Harold Bellh#use(supply); Dunedin Central Mission William Ready ; Dunedin, Cargill Koad, Robert Taylor; Dunedin, Mornington, J. Newman Buttle; Port Chalmers, Thomas N. Griffin; Balclutha, Jam«s G. Chapman; Milton, William G. Thomas; Lawrence. John D. Jory; Invercargill, William 0. Oliver; Oamaru, William B. Marten; Gorge, John G. W. Ellis; Wakatipu, one to be sent; RiverUw, John A. Lochore and home missionary ; Roxburgh, one to be sent; Cromwell, Frederick T. Read; Tapainii, a home missionary; lllawea, a homo missionary; Palmerston and Manioloto, a home missionary ; Alexandra, a home missionary; Chairman of the District, W. C. Oliver.

REPRESENTATIVE SESSION. The Conference met ill representative session in the afternoon.

children's fond. The Children's Fund showed the total receipts to he £1681 .'is 7<l, and the expenditure £1680 103, leaving a credit balanco of 13a 7d. The report was adopted, and the treasurers, the Rev. W. Baamber and Mr. J. H. Helliwell, were thanked and reelected. The assessment for the ensuing year was fixed at 17 per cent. AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE. The Rev. W. Lee brought up the report for 1895. He was thanked for his services, and it was resolved that he be paid an honorarium of £'20. The Rev. D. J. Murray was appointed authorised representative for 1896. NEXT CONFEKKKCK. The Rev. J. H. Gray moved, " That the Conference accept the invitation the New Plymouth circuit to hold the Conference there in 1897." It was, however, resolved " That while thanking the New Plymouth circuit for their offer, the 1897 Conference be held at Wellington."

CONTINGENT FOND. _ The balance-sheet for the Contingent Fund showed the receipts to be £1027 13s 6d, and the expenditure £783 9s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £'244 lis Bd. The balance-sheet was adopted. It was resolved that the thanks of the Conference be presented to the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury and Mr. W. Harris for their services as treasurers during _ the past year, and that the Rev. D. McNicoll and Mr. W. Harris be the treasurers for 1898.

ARREARS. It was resolved that the arrears of the Napier circuit to the Childreus 1 Fund be paid. The Rev. W. Morley thought the circuit had been very lax in this matter, but 1 the representatives from Napior pleaded want of funds. PRINCE ALBERT COLLEGE. The balance-sheet of the Prince Albert College was read and adopted. The receipts amounted to £1067 8s lOd, and the payments to £1111 2s Bd, leaving the small debit balance of £43 13s lOd. Very general satisfaction was expressed at the success of the institution. The Rev. W. Morley said that every care should bo taken to see that the revenue from the Probert estate was absolutely and solely devoted to the training of theological students. Resolutions were carried as followsl. That the report be adopted. 2. That the thanks of the Conference be given to the Board of Governors for the successful management, and that the Conference is pleased with the results of the girls' department. 3. That the cordial thanks of the Conference be presented to the trustees. 4. That the following be the members of the Board of Governors appointed by the Conferenceßevs. H. Bull, W. J. Williams, J. H. Simmonds, Messrs. T. Buddie, A. C. Caughey, and W. Thome.

SUPERNUMERARIES AND WIDOWS FOND.

The balance-sheet showed the receipts to beCircuit contributions, £772 10a 9d; ministers' subscriptions, £522 12s 9d; arrears paid, £85155. Total, £1385 18s 6d. Expenditure : By remittance to general treasurer, less exchange, £1380 18s 6d. The report was adopted. During the past year it was explained by one gentleman there had been a loss of something like £36,000, partly through the bursting of the boom in Victoria, and partly because of a too great readiness to make supernumeraries. The Rev, W. Lee said that, apart from the bursting of tho Victorian boom, the fund had been drifting for several years to the bad, the amounts paid being too high. It was proposed that the allowance be reduced by 12} per cent. The , Rev. H. Bull thought the matter should be j deferred to the General Conference and authorising a full investigation by a competent actuary. Several other speakers regretted that the reduction was necessary, ' but thought there was nothing to be gained I by putting the matter off. It was better to accept the inevitable. It was eventually resolved " That the thanks of the Coherence . be accorded to Rev. D. McNicoll and Mr, I. Buddie for their services as treasurers during ; the past year, and that Rev. H. R. Dewsbury . and Mr. T. Buddie be the treasurers for 1896. . Also that in all cases in future in which a ; year is given, the minister himself shall be | required to pay all connexional charges in-1 volved. ' , On the motion of the Rev. W. MORLEYj it was resolved:-"That in order to provide for the deficiency referred to in the Rev. J. Cope's report, Conference recommends that the allowances to supernumeraries and widows be reduced by seven per cent, duriug the next two years (pending the approval of the General Conference), and that ministers in full work pay 8 guineas per annum during the years 1896 and 1897, and so do their share in meeting the present difficulty; that the special payment of an extra guinea be not required from the ministers coming from the United Methodist Free Churches and the Bible Christian Church, as these have not hitherto been members; that the further consideration of the report be remitted to the Board of Advice (with whom shall be associated for this purpose the Rev. Fairclough and Mr. J. C. Prudhoe), and that the Board correspond with the general treasurer in Melbourne with reference to the present state of the fund; that in view of the large

deficiency now reported, and the considerable sums written off, the Board of Treasurers be requested to consider whether it is not desirable to have an independent valuation of the fund. Also that in terms of Mr. Cope's report, the working expenses should be examined, and if possible reduced."

THE PROBERT TRUST. The receipts of the Probert Trust amounted to £1094 12s 6d, and the expenditure to £1051 14s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £42 18s 4d. This was adopted. It was resolved that the £60 revenue from the estate be shown on both sides of the balance-sheet as received from the estate and expended on Home Mission work _in the Auckland district in accordance with the will of the late Mr. J. Probert." THREE KINGS COLLEGE. It was resolved, That the Conference be advised to recommend the Probert trustees to vote (if iu accordance with the testator's will) such sum of money as they may think fit to cover the cost of training and maintenance of Te Tula as a theological student for the period of two years, during which he was at the Theological College, Three Kings." This was adopted. JUBILEE THANKSGIVING FUND. The balance-sheet and other statements an pointed in the agenda, were adopted. It was resolved that the cordial thanks of the Conference be presented to Rev. W. Morley, general secretary, for his services during the year. The thanks of the Coherence were aloo presented to the General Committee for | services during the past year, and the committee was re appointed with the exception of the name of the Rev. D. McNicoll, in which instance the name of the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury was substituted. FOREIGN MISSIONS. The Rev. S. J. Gibbons read extracts from the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Missions re the above. BALANCE-SHEETS. The following reports and balance-sheets were read and adopted Theological Endowment Trust, Native Education Trust (with the addition of a foot-note stating that £150 was still owing to the Book Association), General Connexional Mission, Gray Institute and Kai Iwi Mission Estate, Wellington Native and Destitute Children's Trust (cash account, revenue account, and balancesheet), and the Canterbury Home Mission Fund. The Conference resumes business this morning at 9.30 o'clock in Ministerial Session.