WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(PBll PRESS ASSOCIATION.I Auckland, March 5

The Wesle) an Conference opened their sittings last night at Pitt street W esleyan Church, when the Rev H. R. Dewsbury was elected President and the Rev W. Lae was re aopointed Secretary. The retiring Presi dent, the Rev J. J. Lewis, delivered an address, In which he spoke of the work of the Wesleyan Church throughout the world, and praised the temperance work of the Bands of Hope, while urging that they should not become mere vehicles for nmusemen-. He maintained that the Bible should be read in the schools, and spoke strongly against professional revivalists. I'ho first draft of stations, subject to revision, was read. Wanganui District—New Plymouth, the Rev P. Fairc'ougli ; Waitara, the Rev J. T. Pinfold; llawera, the Revs T. N. Griffin and J. T. Nott (Opuuske) ; Wanganui, the Rev 11. R. Dewsbury ; ltaogitikei. the Rev G. Fee ; Sanduu and Feilding, the Rev W. Cannsll ; Palmerston North, the Rev J. Dukes; West Co-st Maori Mission, the Rev T. G. Hammond. Wellington District—Wellington, the Revs W. Morley, W. H. Bs-k and C. 11. Laws ; Hutt, the Rev W. J. Watkins and one asked ; Greytowu, the Rev W Ltowse ; Masterton, the Rev J. Crump; Napier, the Rev H. Bull and one asked ; Gi-*horne, the Rev J. S Gibson. Nelson District Nelson, the Rev F. W. laifct ; Richmond, the Rev J. Dollow ; Blenheim, the Rev W. Iveall ; Hokitika, the Rev R. Taylor; Gre.v mouth, the Rev T. G. Brooke. Canterbury District Christchurch, Durham street, the Revs W. C. Oliver an! L. M. Isitt ; Christchurch, St. Albans, the Revs W. Baumber and D. J. Murray ; Christchurch, Sydenham, the Rev J. A. Luxford ; Lyttelton, tbe Rev W. Tinsley ; Springston, the Rev S. J. Garliek ; Leeston, the Revs W. G. Parson and R. J. Murray ; Kaiapoi, the Rev G. Bond ; Woodend and Amberley, the Rev C. H. Standage ; Rangiora, the Rev W. B. Marten ; Timaru, the Rev W. J. Williams ; Waimate, the Rev J. S. Smalley, F.R.G.S. ; Temuka. the Rev C. Griffin ; Ashburton, the Revs S. Lawrie and J. H. Gray. Otago District - Dunedin, Trinity, the Revs J. Berry aud G. W. Spence ; Dunedin, Mornington, the Rev L. Hudson ; Port Chalmers, the Rev J. D. Jory ; Balclatha, the Rev A. G. Thomas ; Milton, the Rev J. Blight; Lawrence, the Rev G. F. Rothwell ; Invercargill, the Rev J. Ward ; Oamaru, the Rev J. N. Buttle ; Gore, the Rev C. Abernethy; Wakatipu, the Rev J. Barrows ; Riverton, the Ruv J. G. Chapman. At to day’s sitting of the Wesleyan Conference the Rev J. Berry (Wellington) applied for transfer to the Victorian Conference. He said he had been invi-ed to the Hawthorn Circuit in Melbourne district. Great regret was expressed that Mr Berry bad decided to remove from New Zealand. The following resolutions were carried ; —‘ ‘ That the Conference having heard Mr Berry’s application for transfer to Victoria and Tasmania, and the correspondence relating thereto, expresses its willing, ness to consent to the transfer if a suitable supply is offered. The following cablegram was sent to the Victorian Conference— 11 Will transfer Mr Berry if a suitable man is offered as supply. Send names.” It was resolved to postpone the second reading of the stations until Tuesday, in order to give an opportunity of deciding whether the changes ot stations should be made every five years instead of every three years as at present. The Conference decided to admit into the Wesleyan ministry in New Zealand the Rev C. E. Baecroft, on condition of a medical certificate being produced, and that there be two years of financial probation.

March 6.

In regard to the request of the Rev J. Berry for transfer to Melbourne, the Wesleyan Conference received a cablegram to-day from the Victorian Conference stating that no member had offered to exchange with Mr Berry. The latter, however, pressed his application, and after some discussion it was decided to again communicate with the Victorian Conference, submitting four names of members as those of persons any of whom the New Zealand Conference would be willing to accept in his place. The four ministers thus selected are Messrs Nye, Bickford, W. Williams and Howard. March 8. The Wesleyan Conference have allowed the Rev J. Crump to rest as aupernumary for one year on account of the illness of Mrs Crump. The Rev R. Bunn, of Canterbury, has been granted permission to retire as snpernumary for a similar term because of ill-health, and the Rev Te Raupahi Kape, also of Canterbury, has been permitted to cease active duty, as he is very feeble.

Auckland, March 9,

The Wesleyan Conference commenced the representative session of clergy and laity today. In welcoming the laymen the President, the Rev. W. Dewsbury, said he hoped at the next Conference that' laymen would be associated with the clergy in the election of officers, and that they would be admitted to the Stationing Committee. The Conference received deputations from the Auckland Ministers’ Association, Congregational Union, Womens’ Christian Temperance Union, and the New Zealand Alliance. Replying to the latter two bodies they assured them of their great interest in the work of temperance. It was decided that Wakatipu, a station due to take a married instead of a single minister, should be relieved of that obligation for a year. The Rev J. Crump was granted permission to stay at Richmond Circuit, Nelson, as aupernumary for one year, on condition that the Circuit raise tbe usual funds and contribute L4O to the Home Mission Fund. The Rev Bond moved that the term of ministerial residence in circuit be extended_ to five years instead of three. The legal opinion was to the effect that this could be done, but Mr C. E. Salter, another member of the legal profession, maintained that, it could not be done without an Act of Parliament. After a long debate the President was authorised to obtain further legal opinion on tbe subject. The resolution ofthelastConference.thata Minister be taken from circuit work and appointed general Secretary for connexional purposes was rescinded, the Rev W. Morley, who was designated for the office, to be

a ipointed to circuit work with the assistance of a minister on probation. The Conference has rrC=ived a further cablegram from the Victorian Conference stating that no exchange is available for the Rev J. Berry, who wished to be transferred to Melbourne.

Auckland, March 10.

The Wesleyan Conference read the second draft of stations : —Auckland District—Town, Pitt street, Revs Berry and Siinmonds ; Wesley College, Rev Mr Reid ; North Shore, Rev Mr Ward ; Grafton road. Revs Lee and Serpell. Country Maburanga. Rev Mr Griffith ; Thames, Rev Mr McNiccnl; Upper Thames, Rev Mr S iw ; Manukati, Rev Mr Rishworth ; Frankiir, Kev Mr Carr ; Cambridge, Rev Mi* Garland; Hamilton, Rev Mr Thomas; Te Awamutu, Rev Mr Smith; Puparoi, Rev Mr Mather ; Northern Wairoa, Rev Mr Jonas; Hokiaiiga, Rev Mr Mr Lowery ; Ta Tanga, Rev Mr Marshall. WungaMii District—New Plymouth, Rev Mr Fairclongli ; Waitara, Rev Mr Binfold; Hawera, Revs Griffan and Beecroft; Wan snui, Rev Mr DewsLury;RangitiKei, Rev MrFee; Smdon, Rev Mr Canned ; Palmerston North, Mr lie,ill. West CoastDistrict—Maori Mission, Rsv Mr Hammond. Wellington District— Town, Revs Lewis, Beck, and Laws ; Hutt, Rev Mr Wat.kin ; Grey town, Rev Mr R iwse ; Masterton, Rev Mr Delluv; Napier, Rev Mr Best; Dishorns, Rev Mr Buttle. Nelson District—NeLon. Rev Isitt; Richmond, Rev Mr Crump ; Blenheim, Rev Mr Bull. Hokitika, Rev Mr Gibson. Grey mouth, Rev Mr B oik-. Canterbury District —Christchurch : Durham street, Revs Morley, L. M. Isitt, and Ivnott (assistant to Morley) ; Sydenham. Rev Mr Luxford ; St. Albans, Revs Baumber and Murray ; Lyttelton, Rev Air Tin-dry; Springston, Rev Mr Garliek ; Leeston. Revs Parsonson and Murray ; Kaiapoi, Rev Mr Bond ; Woodend, Rev Mr Standage ; Rangiora, Rev Mr Martin ; Timaru. Kev Mr Williams : Waimate, Rev Mr Smalley ; Temuka, Rev Mr Taylor; Ashburton, Revs T. Lawry and Grey Ot>-go District—Dunedin: Trinity, Revs Oliver and Spence; Mornington, Rev Mr Hudson : Port Chalmers, Rev Mr Jory ; Balclutha, Rev filr'lhomas; Mil-on, Rev Mr Blight; Lawrence, Rev Mr Rothwell; Invercargill, Rev Mr Dukes; Oamaru, Rev Air Griffen ; Gore, Rev Mr Abernethy; Wakatipu, Rev Mr Burrows. The Wesleyan Conference rejected, by 27 to 16, a motion that the Rev J. Berry, who applied to be transferred to Alelbourne, but in whose place no supply offered, be transferred without exchange. An application was received from the Wellington circuit to be allowed to retain Mr Berry a fourth year, but it was rejected, because the September quarterly meeting of the district had not voted on the question. An application of the Durham street circuit, Clnistchurch, to be allowed to retain the Rev W. Alorley for a fourth year was granted, and the Blenheim circuit was permitted to retain the Rev H. Bull for a fourth year. Ad application of the Sydenham and Leeston circuits to be allowed to retain the Revs L. Isitt and Luxforl respectively, was rejected. It was resolved than an additional minister be sent to the Hutt Dis- i trict, to be stationed at Petone, when one could be obtained. It was decided to send a probationer to Hastirgs, and to allow Leeston (Canterbury) to have a probationer for four years from 1891, instead of only three years. The Conference decided to station a probationer at Feilding to work the Kiwitea District.

Auckland, March 11.

At the Wesleyan Conference to-night the Committee appointed to conei ier the present position and prospects of the Maori Mission, recommended that Waipa in the Waikato District be reoecupied, arrangements being made that the Kev \V. Gittos, the present Maori Missionary, reside there as Superintendent, and a Native minister, say Wi Warina, be appointed to reside at Tekopua in the Waikato ; that the appointment of a Native agent to assist the Kev T. G. Hammond on the West C last is not necessary at present ; that the Committee had heard with pleasure the proposals of the Canterbury Dietrict to incorporate Maori work with Euiopean, and that tho Superintendents of Lyttelton, Temuka, Woodend, and Leeston Districts be directed to give special attention tothis ; that theSuperintendentsof viaori Ciicuits he urged to do their utmost tosenda supply of Native students to the Three Kings College for the Native pastorate or local preaching, arrangements to be made for their industrial training *s well as education ; that ministers in those circuits in the vicinity of which Maoris reside be required to arrange for services amongst them ; that the duty of supporting their pastors be urged upon the Natives ; that the authorities of Wesley College be empowered to set apart land for residences for married Native ministers ; that the superintendents of the Hutt and Greytowu circuits devote attention to the Alaoris in the Wellington district. These recommendations were adopted. It was resolved to send Hauraki Paul to attend the Home Mission meetings in Wanganui and Wellington districts, the Rev T. G. Hammond to visit Canterbury and Otago.