WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2386, 25 November 1881, Page 4

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The financial session was commenced yesterday morning at 11 o’clock, when, in addition to the ministers, the following lay gentlemen were present:—Messrs Dawson, Monldoy, Harris (Christchurch), Shiorlaw (Colombo road), W. 8. Smith, Oresswell (St. Albans), R. Wood, J. W. Smith (Lyttelton), Poryman (Springatou), Hodgson, Thompson (Rangiora), Skcvington, Little (Woodend), G. Manchester (Waimate), Maslin (Temuka), Orr and Jones (Ashburton), with Messrs Rspley and Thomas, homo missionaries.—A request from the Durham ■treet circuit for an additional minister to -reside at Woolston, was agreed to, subject to the approval of conference. —The statistical returns required by the conference were as follows : Churches, 47 ; other preaching places, 23; ministers, 18; home missionaries, 2 ; local preachers, 77 ; oh>£3 leaders, 60; full members, 1221; on trial, 503 ; communicants, 222 ; catechumens, 221; deaths, 8; Sunday schools, 42 ; scholars, 4333 ; teachers, 458; attendance at public worship, 11,289. These figures dhow an iacreaee of 2 ministers and 1 home missionary, 13 leaders, 135 members, 413 on trial, and 45 catechumens. —It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Manchester, that the secretary be directed to write a letter of condolence to the friends of the late Messrs Oonnal and Mitchell, who perished in the wreck of the s s. Tararua.—A proposal to add « column to the general returns, showing the number of junior members, was negatived by A large majority.—A ballot was taken for representative to the stationing committee of conference, resulting in the election of the Bev. W. H. Beck.—Mr Dawson, district secretary of property, read a report show.ng the slate of the various church properties in the district; after which the Rev. Mr SimTnonda moved that the annuol schedules be discontinued, and the desired information returned in another form. This was carried unanimously. Also a resolution that the district secretary be requested to compile a register of property from the returns now to hand, showing the state of each property and the tenure on which it is held. —The balancesheet for the Home Mission and church extension fund was then read, showing a total income for the district of £679 16; 7d. Tho estimated receipts for 1882 were £615 10j, and the following grants were recommended : —Lyttelton, £SO ; Leeston, £25 ; Amberloy, £SO ; Waimate, £75 ; Temuka, £3O ; Ashburton, £IOO ; Malvern, £SO; supernumorary fund (due to on account of Rev. Mr Brooke), £9 9j j Taumutu, £lO. Total, £399 9j Id.—The following information respecting new properties was presented Church at Orescent road, Bb. Albans, had been enlarged at a cost- of £l6O, providing sixty additional sittings; no debt. Lyttelton, now parsonage (and furniture) cost £BBB 10a; debt, £230. Broadfield, church improvement, £170; no debt. Horrelaville, new church to seat sixty, cost £l4O ; no debt. Waimate, parsonage of seven rooms and one acre of land purchased Jtor £l5O. The usual permission was obtained in the following cases: —To erect a new church on the East belt, Christchurch, to seat 460, at a coat of £2500; to build a schoolroom of stone in Colombo road, to accommodate 500 children ; to sell the present site and parsonage at Leeston, also the churches at Geraldine and Temuka, new buildings to be erected in each case. Permission was also given to build a new church at Willowby.