METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 4

METHODIST CHURCH.

THE CONFERENCE. The Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand was continued yesterday. The Eov. 8. Lawry presided. DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. District boundaries wero mado as follow :— Taranaki-Wanganui District —Now Plymouth, Waitara, Inglcwood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawern, Manaia, Capo Egmont, East Egmont, Kaponga, Wauganui, Aranioho, ltangitikei, Taihape, Waimarino, West Coast Maori Mission; Patea ami North Taranaki Home Mission Stations. Hawko's Bay-Manawatu District.—Napier, Hastings! Gisborne, Waipawn, Dannovirko, Woodville, Pahiatun, Palmerston North (Broad Street), I'ahncrston North (Cuba Street), Feilding, Sanson, and ltongotca, Foxton; Kimbolton and Norsewood Homo Mission Stations. Wellington District.—Wellington (Taranaki Streot), Wellington Central Mission, Wellington (Thorndon), Wellington South, Johnsonville, Hutt, Petone, South Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton, Eketahuna, Levin-Otaki. . Nelson District—Nelson, Richmond, Blenheim, Hokitika, Greymouthi, Motueka, Reefton, \Yestport, Denniston; Havelock, Awatere, Murchison, and Kunnnga Home Mission Stations. \ ' ' . CIRCUIT ADJUSTMENTS. ■ Tlie following circuit adjustments were made:— ' ' Inglewood. —'That Midhirst be transferred to tho Stratford Circuit, and that in lieu thereof a grant of £80 a year be mado to tho Inglcwood Circuit for at least three years, and that tho Primitive Methodist property at Inglewood be sold, and the proceeds dovoted to tho liquidation of the dobt on tho Methodist Parsonage. New Plymouth.—To include all tho places in the present Methodist ■ and Primitive Methodist Circuits; with two married ministers and ono probationer. Stratford.—To include the places in tho presout Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuits, together with Midhirst (as abovo), and Bird Road from tho Eltham circuit, with, two married ministers, 'one of whom shall rcsido at Midhirst.

' Eltham.—To includo all the places in the present Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuits, except. Bird vEoadj with one married minister. .

-Wanganui.—To include all tho places in the present. Methodist and Primitive Methodist circuits; with two married ministers.. , '

Feilding.—To include the following places:—Feilding (two churches), Mnkino, Cheltenham, Waiata, Colyton, -Waituna (from Kimbolton Homo Mission Station), Halcombe, Dunnolly, Beaconsfield, Stanway, and Cameron's Lino; with three married ministers. .N.B.—lt is recommended that a H.M. grant of £30 a year bo mado to Kimbolton for the loss of Waituna.

Sansan and Rongotea.—To include Sanson, Rongotea (two ohurches), Carnarvon, Glen Oroua, Taikorea, und Ohakea; with ono married minister.

Wellington (Taranaki Street).—To include. Wesley Church, Taranaki Street; Webb Street, and Brooklyn Churches, together with tho Am Streot and Tory Street Missions; with two married triinisters (one of whom;shall have: charge-of Webb' 'Street Church ■ and: assist • with 'the Eastoral work at Taranaki Street), and a omb missionary' at Brooklyn.' ! - .". Wellington (Thorndon).—To' include Moiesworth Sti'eot and Sydney 'Street (theso.to l>e amalgamated), Karori, Northland, and Kaiwarra Churches; with one married minister at/rhoradon and one probationer at Karori. Wellington South.—To include all the places in the presont Wellington South Methodist circuit, and the present Wellingttm 111 Primitive Methodist circuit; with two married-ministers and,one probationer. It was agreed that suitable grants from the home 'anissiohs'be continued for the Jirst year, and that tho Methodist andTrihlitive "Methodist congregations at Island Bay be amalgamated, and, t,heiPrimitiyo_Methodist-Church dispoi^d'of. -. ■ Jhlinsonvijle.—To. ihclildo'J Johnsonville, 'NgaioS' Tawj), 1 'Flat;,and, Joyirua.' chur'cjies, [,\\ r il,h; v TitfeTitdta, aiia,,Ngnha!iir'angas. with ' one probationer, ..tlie.latter to rteide.at : .Po'rifua,;T-.This eirMli't' ta' be' res'pp'iisiblo ■. for '.'the, services at tho'-' Sfental /Hospital, .'at • present - carried on 'by Primitive-Methpilists;'' A suitable grant will be 1 made';i s -Petony.—To- .'. '.include;. L . : Petone■ ' (two churches)' and Wainui-o-rtata;'' with ■ one married minister. ' Niß.—lt' is.'propiosed to removo the Primitive Methodist Church to a suitable,'site''at the"eaaern-end of Petone, arid to dispose of thoV sito in Sydney 'Street. ;' •' -', ; " • •' The Centriil' *C6inniittce ' having ' gono through the adjustments,, found that they involved-the loss of fivo-married ministers' stations. Two, circuits'"fulfilled ;their. obligations; to provide for married liiinistefs; "The nu'mt>er of probable retirements from active'work, aucf the number of new applicants for 'married ministers' stations equalled each other,. Coiisequently. tliei'o wero three additional married ministers' stations required.-'' The committee recommended that, the AVeliiiigton. (Thorndon) circuit provide for a second married minister at Karori, that tho married minister be retained at Woodond, and that a married minister bo appointed' to Motueka. This was agreed to. On the recommendation of. the Union Committee, it was'decided to appoint a home missionary,to East Egmont. ' A now station was created at Moltau, and it was resolved to send a homo'missionary there. ! DIVISIONS OF CIRCUITS., ' On the recommendation of the Union Committee, the following divisions of circuits wero fixed:— , • • Palmerston North,—That tho .Palmerston'North Circuit'be divided as follows: —(1) Palmerston North . (Broad Street), to consist of St. Paul's, Ashliurst, Pohanginn, ;and Stoney ; Creek,with a married minister and u probationer; (2), Palmerston North (Cuba' Street), to consist of Cuba Street, Bunnythorpo, and Longburn, with one married minister. Upper Thames'.—That Matamata, Walton, U'ahftroa, iMangawhero, Turangaomoana, Putaruru, Tnpapa, Hinuera Valley, Tirau, and Okauia. lie separated from tlio Upper Thames Circuit, and constituted a separate Home Mission' Station.

Christchurch. (Durham Street).—That tho circuit bo divided as follows:—(1), Christchurch (Durham StreeJ); (2). Christchurch Central-Methodist Mission, to consist of Durham Street South and; High Street Churches, and a rented' central hall, with a married minister; (3) Christchurch Enst, to comprise East Belt, Richmond, New Brighton, Linwood, Windsor, and Marshlands churchos, with a married minister, two probationers, and a' Home missionary; (4) Christchurch' '(Woolston), to comprise Woolston, Opawa, llenthcoto Valley, Sumner, and Rodcliffs, with a married minister and another agent.' Kaiapoi.—That tho Koiapoi Circuit be divided as follows:—(1) lCaiappi, to consist of Kaiapoi, Clarkville, anu Coutts's Island, with a married minister; (2) Olioka, to Consist of Olioka, Swunnanoa, Horrelvillc, and East Eyreton, with a married minister to reside at Olioka. N.ll.—Tho present ICaiapoi Circuit is to hand over not less than J!350 towards providing a parsonage for the now circuit, and to eontribute <£10 j>er annum for five years to tho Ohoka Circuit. Dunedin (Cargill Road).—That St. Kilda and Broad liaj' bo separated from' the Cargill Road Circuit, with a married minister. . ■ Rangiora.—ln the caso of Rangiora, tho committee was (on its own recommendation) reappointed for another year, and it was agreed that a grant should be mado in the meantime to' the Amberley and tho Itnngiora Circuits. FOREIGN WORK. The Revs. W. J. Eutieott and P. Copeland volunteered for foreign' mission, work, and the conference decided to recommend the Foreign Mission Board in Sydney to accept the offers. ! Tho' conference will resume this mornMUSICAL FESTIVAL. A musical festival was.given last night by the Wesley Choir. The entertainment opened with an organ solo by Mr. Henry Wells, and during tho evening two nntheins wero well rendered—"God is a Spirit' and Mendelssohn's "Hallelujah." Mr. Harry Phipps sang "Lead Kindly Light," and as an encore gave "A Perfect Day." An item which proved most enjoyable was a quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, baboon, and piano. This was taken from Beethoven's, Opus. 10. and was well played by Messrs, H. Wells, M'Doaaid, C. D. Mackintosh. W. Jon-

ness, and W. ,T. Harland. ■ Mr. R. S. AllWright sang '"ITiou'rt Passing Hence," and, being encored, "Tho Wreath,"

"Thro' the Bay".-was sung by.Miss'.-Nel-lio Castle, who is the possessor of a good contralto voico, and a duct, composed by Dr. Stainer, entitled "Lovo Divine, All Lovo Excelling," was given by Miss Brittaih' and Mr. l'hipps, whoso voices blended most harmoniously. . 'l'hoy were recalled, and for an encore they repeated tho last verse. Miss Violet Mueller sang Cuthbert Wynne's song "Through Lovo to Light" with an organ accompaniment played by Mr. Wells. A soprano solo from St. Paul, "Jerusalem," was successfully givou by Mis 98. Brittain. , Tho whole of tho eocond part was taken up by Spohr's iantata "God, Thou Art Great." Tho chorus work was very good, and was sung with accuracy as to tune, time, and expression. The solo parts were well rendered by Miss Brittain, who sang with good expression and interpretation. Mr. Henry Wells (tho choirmaster) deserves high praiso for the success of the wholo entertainment. It is announced that a conversazione will bo held in tho Town Hall next Wednesday. A very fine programme has been prepared. Included in the programme will be a song by Mr. Dan Evans, a Welsh tenor, who has recently coino to the Dominion.