THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3906, 26 January 1884, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

"Wellington, This day. The Wesley an Conference was in committee during the greater part of yesterday upon the subject of home missions. During the part yoar the income hae been £2182 Gs 10d, and the expenditure £2553 17s Bd. The Rev. A. Reid and Mr F. L. Primo were thanked for the service during the past year, and re-appointed. The balancesheets of the connectional properties wore read by Messrs Hobb? and George. A grant was made to enable the Rev. Mr Gittos to travel among the Maoris of the northern districts. The Cambridge and Patca circuits were reported to the Conferonce as having" fallen short of the amounts required for the mission fund. The Secretary of the Conference reported that a donation of £300 had been bequeathed to the fund, payable next year. The subject of the Methodist Union occupied the attention of tho Conference during last night. The debate lasted four hours, and was of a moat spirited character. Resolutions in favor of the union were moved by the Rev. Mr Bavin. The first resolution, that the union committee's report be received, and the second, expressing thankfulness at so krgc a proportion of quarterly meetings, were carried _ unanimously. On the third resolution being put, which"committed the Conference to accept the general principles of the proposed union basis, a long debate took place. The Rev. J. Berry moved, as an amendment, that while the union is desirable the proposal for tho present union is premature. Seventeen ministers and eleven laymen addressed the Conference. Shortly before midnight the question was put and lost, there being no further amendment. The original motion was then put and carried amidst loud cheers by 38 to 9. At the Conference to-day the Christchurch committee was appointed to conduct detail negotiations during the year with the other Methodist churches. The Conference also recommended the managing committee of the New Zealand Wesleyan to change the name of the paper to the New Zealand Methodist, and to reserve a space for the publication of Methodist Church news. It was resolved that the secretary of the Conference attend the succeeding Conference ex ojjicio. A motion to give a prize to tho probationer taking the highest number of marks was negatived. The Rev. Thomas Buddie presented the report of the committee on the transfer of church property, further consideration of which is deferred to a later stage of the Conference. A special session to the ministerial conference was held to consider the unconditional offer of Mr Buchanan as a probationer for the Ministry, and on the motion ofthe secretary it was resolved that his offer be accepted, and that he be appointed to a circuit. It was resolved that the final reading of the stations be taken on Monday morning.