WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2435, 25 January 1882, Page 4

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The Conference continued its sitting on Tuesday morning at tea o’clock, when Mr Berry led the devotional exercises. The journal of Monday’s proceedings was read and confirmed. After some committee business, the roll of the lay delegates was completed, and at eleven I -o’clock the mixed Conference met. In addition to the ministers there wore present Messrs Wilson, Buttle, and Leybourne /Auckland), George {New Plymouth), Watt and Ralph (Wellington), B. O. Mouldey, BDawson, W. Harris, W. Shierlaw, B. Salter (Christchurch), W. Lawry (Sprmgston), Wills (lieeston), Blackwell (K-uapoi), Hodgnon (Eangiora), Bigg (Dunedin), Lean (Port -Chalmers), Wansborough (Oamaru). Prayer was offered by the Bev. D.M Nicoll and Mr E. Salter, . , The secretary read a statement showing tne expenses connected with the assembling of the general conference in Adelaide. Xhe total amount was £lO7l, towards which New Zealand was required to contribute £loJ The general secretary of Homo Missions gave in a report, after which a committee was appointed to consider the income and expenditure for the year, and to report this morning. Hours of session were fixed as follows : —3,la.m. to 12 45 p.m., and 2 30 p.m. to proposal to divide the Auckland (Pitt street) circuit wos carried unanimously, the new circuit to be termed the North Snore circuit. A similar recommendation to divide the Waikato circuit into three, to be called £ba Cambridge, Hamilton, and Te Awamutu -circuits, was, after considerable discussion, negatived. The secretary then proposed, — “That the circuit bo divided into two, to ho called the Cambridge and To Awamutu circuits.” This was carried, with only one dissentient. It was agreed to separate the Maori work in the Kaipara circuit from the European, and to divide the circuit into two, to be called Kaipara (European), and Kaipara (Maori). The New Plymouth circuit .also requested division, the newly constituted circuit to bo called Waitara. The Bev. D. MoNiooll urged the request, which, alter a lengthened discussion, was agreed to. xhe name of the Kakakawa circuit was changed to Bay of Islands. It was agreed to transfer Wharehine, Port Albert, and Wellsford, from the Kaipara to the Mahurangi circuit, the transfer to take place only on the appointment of a minister to Mahurangi. Havelock and the adjacent places were constituted a Home Mission station, to be attached to the Blenheim circuit, and Oaversham, in Otago, ■transferred from the Momington to the Dunedin -(Trinity) circuit. . It was resolved that married ministers be appointed to the Waiuku and Pukekohe, and Balolutha circuits, and that Gisborne, Morjnington, and Tapanui, be relieved from their obligations for one year. Applications for additional ministers were received and granted in the following cases Auckland (one to reside at Mount Albert), North Shore, Mahurangi, Coromandel, Te Awamutu, Baglan (Native minister), Hokianga (Native), Batea, Christchurch (Woolston), and Dunedin (Trinity Church). _ It was also agreed to appoint home missionaries to the following stations, viz. • Opunake, Havelock, and Malvern. ... The following statistical return was read by the secretary Ministers, 84 ; College, 1; members, 4346; on trial, 717 ; catechumens, 610 ; communicants, 1161 ; Sunday schools, 164 ; scholars, 13,922 ; adherents, 38,256. The figures refer to the European population only. A conversation ensued on the state or religion in the oh arches, in which the Bevs. W. Baumber, J. S. Smalley, and 8. J. Garliok took part. The further consideration of the subject was adjourned till this evening at half-past seven o’clock.