METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13321, 5 March 1914, Page 8

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last , night. At the Methodist conference this afternoon it was decided that the Wellington South Circuit be relieved of a probationer and that the staff consist of two married ministers. In the first reading of stations the Rev. J. A. Lochore, of Gisborne, has been set down for Oamaru, and ..Rev. R. Raine has been appointed to Mr Loehore's superintendency m Gisborne, with I an assistant still to be appointed. It was resolved that the second minister m tho Blenheim circuit be station!ed at Tuamarina and that the circuit officials be. asked to consider tlie matter of engaging a probationer for Picton. Th& Rev. C. Griffi's request that his status be dated from 1876 . was granted. The Rev. S. Griffith presented- the report of the Deaconess Committee. Sister Mabel was cordially thanked for her devoted work as superintendent of the deaconess institution, "-and regret was expressed at 'her retirement. Sister" Grace, from England,, was appointed to the charge of the institution. Regret was expressed at the resignation of Sisters Kenneth and Lilian .through illIrhealth. A report was received from .the committees on temperance and publio l morals. Resolutions were adopted m regard to the liquor problem and ■' indus? I trial unrest. It was resolved to express | regret that the Government did not af** ford an opportunity last session for amending the three-fifths provision of the licensing law, and to .ask' that steps 4 he taken to liave the proposed Bill passed into law as early as possible. The gambling question was considered)} and- a resolution was -adopted condemn-*, ing the totalisator and deprecating the recent attempt to increase the number, of totalisator permits.-- 1" The authorised • representative '(Rev.; S. Lowry) presented a report which was adopted. - •• 'Twenty-one hew properties .were gist ere d during 1913. ;' '■ •-, /-.->-:- Tlie report of the comnutteWion. the" balance sheet was-adopted, and the fin;' ancial statements of the- various con-: nexional funds were approved. * The secretary of the Connexion al Fire Insurance Office- presented a report, which was ■■received.-' It*-. - showed.' the capital m tlie- fund at £p398, '.after -deducting £ICOO voted, towards the supernumerary fund on account of the ex-. Primitive Methodist ministers.-. • The guarantors of the fund Were released from liability m view of the satisfactory growth of capital. • ■ ■ Appreciative reference"^ wap made to the following ministers, wliose. deaths occurred during the year : Chas. E. Beecroft, Wm. Tinsloy, and Bai-ton H. Ginger. A - suitable hymn was sung-, and Rev. F-airclough engaged m prayer. Reports Of tlie welfare of the Church were presented, and members of the conference bore testimony to the good work of the visiting missionaries, Rev. and Mrs Vallance Cook,- Rev. F. W. Trigge, and Sister Frances. A series of resolutions Were carried placing on record the success- that had attended the labor of the missionaries. '1 aaaa-aa-aa »..-{.