WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2686, 16 November 1882, Page 3

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL DISTRICT SESSION. In our impression of Wednesday the name of the Rev. C. Griffin, Waimate, was inadvertently omitted in the list of representatives present at the Conference. On resuming business on Tuesday afternoon the report of the Native work was presented by To Koto, the Maori missionary, who is engaged in itinerating among the Maori settlements of Canterbury and Otago. The Chatham Islands are also included in his district. The report showed that there were live churches, besides other preaching places, and five Sunday schools._ He is helped in his work by nine Native lay teachers. There are 743 persons under his charge. The people amongst whom he is laboring contribute a certain amount yearly towards his maintenance, and the sum thus raised is supplemented by an annual grant from Conference. The Rev. J. S. Smalley preferred a request to ho placed on the list of superannuated ministers for one year. Ho presented the application with great reluctance. For some time past his health had been failing, and it was necessary that ho should obtain a period of rest. Rev. J. Rishworth thought it expedient that Mr Smalley’s request should be accompanied with a medical certificate. Rev. E. Best agreed with the views of Rev. J. Rishworth. He would suggest that the consideration of the application be allowed to stand over, so that Mr Smalley could produce a certificate. The Chairman thought that if Mr Smalley were relieved of circuit duties for a few weeks he would regain his strength. He could see that with their present staff of ministers it would he an extremely difficult thing to dispense with the services of Mr Smalley for a year. Rev. J. Rishworth would he willing to assist Mr Smalley hy giving him one Sunday. He believed there were others present who would do the same, so that there would he no difficulty in the way of obtaining a few weeks’ rest. After some discussion, it was resolved to pass on to the next business. At five o’clock the session adjourned till ten the following morning. The session opened at ten o’clock yesterday morning. After singing, and reading the Scriptures, the Rev. J. Smith offered prayer. The first business of the morning was an investigation of the for the circuits. It was found that in many circuits -no such books were kept, and in several instances the returns were made in a very imperfect manner. The Chairman called the attention of the meeting to the fact that each circuit was by the constitution of the Church supposed to possess schedule books, and that each superintendent minister was held responsible for a proper keeping of all records required to be entered. Rev. J. Simmonds was of opinion that the present system was unworkable, and that it was expedient to adopt a simpler form.

Revs. Rishworth and Keall agreed with Mr Simmonds. They had hotter have a simpler method which could be worked, or else abolish the system. The Chairman could not see that there was .anything at all difficult in the working of the present system. It was most desiderahlo that all the information required should be obtained and preserved. It would save a considerable degree of labor which would otherwise be entailed on a minister when entering on the charge of a circuit where the retiring ministers had neglected to make proper returns. Correspondence was read by the chairman from a gentleman who offered himself to the Conference for the office of the ministry. As the offer had not passed the quarterly meeting of the circuit, of which the gentleman was a member, it was resolved that the consideration of offer bo postponed for twelve months in order that the matter may come forward in the regular way. The reports of the home mission agents were presented. The Chairman said that last year Mr Thomas was engaged fer some time as mission agent in the Malvern district. Early in this year Mr Thomas was removed to another sphere, and when he (the chairman) took charge of the district of Canterbury, he found that no arrangements had been made to fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr Thomas’ removal. After some time he entered into negotiations with Mr Harker, which resulted in his appointment to the district. Ho was pleased, to see Mr Harker in their midst, and could bear personal testimony to his faithfulness and efficiency in discharging the duties of missionary agent. He would ask Mr Harker to give to the meeting a statement of his work for the past six months.

Mr Harker presented a very interesting report of his labors in the Malvern district. There were nine places which he regularly visited. Ho was assisted by five laymen. The services were well attended, considering that several of his preaching stations were in sparsely populated localities. There wore four Sunday schools, with seventeen teachers and 129 scholars. He travelled on horseback on an average eighty-five miles a week, besides a deal of walking. He believed that the prospects of his district were encouraging.

Mr Eapley, who -lias "boon employed in the Amberley district for throe years, was asked to furnish the meeting with a statement of the result of his labours, lie said that his district included Amberley, Leithfiold, Springfield, Waipara, Waikari, Mason’s Elat, Ladcmoro, and Hurunui. In visiting these parts, ho been much encouraged by the kindness of the people and the readiness with which they received his ministrations. During the last six months he had journeyed nearly 2000 miies, had made 731 visits. There was one Sunday School, with forty scholars and two teachers. He believed that the mission was on the whole more satisfactory than it had ever been before. It was resolved that having hoard the reports of the mission agents with much satisfaction, this mooting rejoices in the good work that is being done by them, and recommend the continuance of these stations, and would express sympathy with them, and satisfaction with the faithful manner in which they have prosecuted their work during the past year. It was decided to recommend to the Conference that the ministers of the Eaugiora and Woodeud circuits shall in future exchange with the Ambei-iey missionary, and the Spriugston minister with the Malvern missionary once a quarter. In the absence of the Ilev. J. Deck, Dio District Secretary for Sunday Schools, the Ilev. W. Martin gave the report. The returns showed that there were -ICO teachers and 4(300 scholars. The libraries contained C97G volumes.

The Chairman wished to call the attention of the superintendents and school officials to the necessity of exercising greater care in selecting library books ; it

was a matter of vital consequence that the schools should seek to secure a literature for the young of a pure and healthy tone. liov. Keail thought it was cause of regret that the schools did not accord larger patronage to the Conuoxional Boole Depot. The literature that could be obtained there was thoroughly healthful and safe. Sessions closed at 5.30. J