OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XII, 21 March 1896, Page 315

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH. OUR illustrations represent the Wellington aud Auckland cricket teams, which met in friendly contest at the Domain last month. The match, which was played in fine weather, resulted in a win for the local team by four wickets. The chief scorer on the Auckland side was G. Mills, who made 106 runs not out in the first innings, and on the Wellington side E. F. Upham, who was bowled with 51 to his credit. Our illustrations this week include some capital sketches of the works at the Earl of Glasgow ami Wealth of Nations mines, Karangahake. The former property comprises eighty-eight acres, adjoining the Crown mine, and is now being worked by an English company under the management of Mr T. Shepherd, a gentleman of considerable experience in Australian mining. The engineering department is under the charge of Mr Duffield, who is also supervising works on various Wairongomai properties. As will be seen by the illustrations, two parallel drives have been put in. the idea being to facilitate the testing of the lodes they will intersect. There is a distance of 300 feet between the drives. The one to the right is being put in to intersect the Adeline run of country and strike the Crown reef near the boundary of the two properties. The left-hand picture shows the second drive, which is well to the South of No. I. This will go in under the trig station at the top of the hill, and will also penetrate the Adeline country. No. 3 sketch shows the tip from the mouth of the level, also the trolly and tramway. No 4 is a picture of the water-race from the head of the Dubbo Creek, while No. 5 is a sketch of the small 5-stamper battery and single bedan with which Messrs Fleming Brothers commenced operations in this mine. Small as the plant was they took out / 1,000 worth of bullion, some of the ore treated being worth 10 oz to the ton.

The other sketches show the works at the Wealth of Nations mine. At the top is shown the smithv for repairing tools, and also the tramway to the tip. In the lower sketch are seen miners engaged putting in the drive through solid rock, for it will be noticed that no timbers are required.

WESLEYAN CONFER ENC E. The 23rd New Zealand Wesleyan Conference, which has just closed its annual siltings in Auckland, has been in many respects the most importaut, and certainly the very largest Methodist Conference ever held since administrative powers were conferred by the Australasian Wesleyan authorities on the colony. The personnel of the Conference strikes the visitor as youthful, and it was this very aspect of it that unwittingly caused, an expresident of the British Conference (the Rev. Dr. Gervase Smith) to smile somewhat ungracious!}’ at the early age at which one of his ministerial brethren in New Zealand could ascend to the Presidential Chair. The English Conference could never for a moment consent to lose such dignity as to elect a man who had not travelled at least thirty-five years in full circuit work, or passed the meridian of three score, besides being a veritable Saul amongst his brethren. But the ex-President of the British Conference just blundered where most do who have ventured to criticise New Zealand life and manners on the experience of a six days’ flying trip through the colony. It is true that New Zealand Wesleyans have but few hoary-headed captains who still steer the Gospel ship, but there is, nevertheless, a big ship's company of men of vigour, who have shown much adaptability, and achieved much success in the work of their choice.

The annual Conferences as they come round appear like views in a kaleidoscope ; the exact same faces are never seen a second time. The indelible law of change has fixed itself at every turn on Methodist customs and usuages. The burning and all-absorbing question of this Conference was, of course, the consummation of union between the Wesleyans, Methodist Free Church, and Bible Christians of the colony. In this respect a big volume of Methodist history has been written. For over fourteen years the matter of union has been discussed, debated, and written about, and it was only at the last General Conference that powers were extended to New Zealand to perfect the scheme and make it lawful. This has now been accomplished amidst much controversy ami conscientious opposition. The unity and conformity completed between the three churches is hailed with joyful anticipation by, many, while some regret that the day of union was not postponed so as to enable the Primitive Methodist Church to fall into line without humiliation. It may be a matter for fear that the Primitives are now further away than ever. This latter body is growing rich. It owns in the colony

/30,00 a worth of church property, has only /"5,000 debt on the whole. It has big fire insurance and life assurance fund at its disposal, and these funds yearly add much wealth to the Connexion. Its ministers are now much better paid than formerly, and the 18H4 Basis of Union would have secured them for ever if wisely adhered to. It is yet to be hoped that the remaining difficulties may be overcome, and as separation from Australia may be soon granted to the New Zealand Church, fresh overtures may be made and accepted by all concerned. Home Mission work in the church —from the various reports submitted —is progressing favourably. Still the annual donations to this fund do not come in so fast as the cause demands. Much more might be done. The I'oreigu Missionary spirit has greatly revived in the colony. It was a matter for regret that the Advocate, the Conuexional paper, was uot thriving as well as could be wished. Its articles are vigorously written, but religious journals in the colony seem to die after a few years of publication. The cause of decay is difficult to detect. The Conference as a whole was a great success. The visitors were delighted with Auckland, its lovely scenery, and fine weather. Many of the Ministers and laymen brought their wives with them, and many renewed old friendships formed in Auckland many years ago. THE CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA. The annual carnival of the Christchurch Regatta Club took place this year on the Estuary at Sumner, and was one of the most successful the Club has ever had. The weather was delightful,the events interesting, and the public were there in force. Our photographic artist has succeeded in securing some fine ‘shots’ of the gathering.