JUBILEE OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2802, 28 June 1890, Page 2

JUBILEE OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

—: — •* At the .Vesleyan Conference held in Christchurch last January, arrangements were made for celebrating the Jubilee of the Church's work among the colonists of New Zealand. This work began with the beginning of colonisation. The missionaries ti; the Maoris had preceded the colonists by several years, and were realy to minister to the religious wants of the colonists as sion as they arrived in this land. When the first immigrant ship of the New Zealand Company arrived at Port Nicholson in January 1840, the late Rev. J. Buller was then on a visit to this part in connection with the Maori mission, and on the Sunday morning he pulled off in a boat and preached to the passengers and crew of the Aurora before they had time to set toot on the shore. From that time the work among the Europeans has been carried on. In 1841 the same minister, ever prompt to take advantage of any opportunity of preaching the gospel, found his way to Auckland. The town had been only a few months in existence, and no church or other suitable building had been erected, but on his first Sunday there he preached to a congregation of Maoris in the morning, in the afternoon he preached to a congregation of English in a saw-pit at Mechanics' Bay, and in the evening he preached in an auction room. Those were the days of small things. At present there are in New Zealand 462 European congregations, 198 of which meet in churches of various sizes. There are about 9,800 communicants, and nearly 50,000 attendants at the public services conducted by the Wesleyan Church in this colony. Sunday next, June 20th., is to fce observed as Jubilee Thanksgiving day, when special services are to be held in connection with the Jubilee celebration. At the Hamilton Wesleyan Church the Rev. S. Lav/ry is announced to preach both innrnicg and evening, when large congregations may be expected.