WESLEYAN CONFERENCE, DURHAM STREET.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 811, 27 January 1877, Page 3

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE, DURHAM STREET.

Conference assembled yesterday morning at the usual time.

Attention was called to a printer’s error in the report of the previous day, stating that the increase of members for the year was three, the increase being one hundred and eleven. The following gentlemen were appointed the committee of privileges for the ensuing year ; —The Revs Kirk, Reid, Buddie, Morley, Fitchett, Crump, Bavin, and Richardson, with Messrs T. Buddie, C J. Stone, D. Lewis. Moxham, A. 0. Campbell, C. W, Turner, P, J. Garrick, and Dr Borrows; the Rev J. B. Richardson, secretary. It was agreed that a form be prepared by Messrs Whitaker and Russell, and inserted in the minutes of the Conference, to facilitate the conveyance of land to trustees, under the Land Transfer Act.

It was reported that erection?, additions, and other improvements had been made during the year, at a total cost of £BO9B, which amount had been raised with the exception of £4127, of which £I6OO are met by leased lands. Permission was given to the various circuits to expend during the present year £9191 in new erections and improvements in property, with a proposed debt of £3265, of which the sum of £6OO is provided for by the rent of leased land. It was reported that one parsonage and eleven churches had been erected curing the year, and that one parsonage had been purchased. The total number of churches owned by the Conference is now one hundred and fifty-five, with thirty-six parsonages. Seven church sites have been acquired during the year, of which five have been purchased, and two were given to the Conference, the donors of those cites being F. Sheppard, Esq, and 9. Tiffin, Etq. The total cost of all the properties amounts to £92,3lß,onwhich debts remain to the amount of £ls 290, equal to a sixth of the whole. _ Permission was given to sell the following properties, viz, a piece of land in Masterton in the Wairarapa circuit, and a cottage and land in Baglan, Leave was asked to sell the church at Grahamstown, in order that a new church might be erected on a more suitable site. Decision was deferred for the present. Permission was sought to sell certain sites in the town of Napier, which gave rise to a long debate, in which the Revs Reid, Richardson, Buddie, Morley, BerrV, with Messrs Turner, Dr Borrows, and Harris took part. The Conference unanimously agreed that permission be not granted. The afternoon session was commenced at 2.39, The supernumerary, children’s education, and contingent funds were reviewed, and the various treasurers’ reports adopted. A prolonged discussion ensued as to whether a levy should be made upon the circuits for the expenses of laymen travelling to Conference. It was decided that it would be better to leave each circuit to pay the expenses of its own representative. A resolution was carried that the income of the contingent fund for the ensuing year should be raised by a levy of 3 per cent upon the circuit incomes as returned for last year.