TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[PUB PRESS ASSOCIATION.--COPYRIGHT,] BIBLE CLASS CONFERENCE. TIALARU,' J ami ary 5.

Last week Timaru lias entertained the Annual Conference of the Presbyterian Bible Class with an attendance of nearly' nine hundred, chiefly young people and a number of ministers from various part s of the Dominion as teachers, lecturers, and leaders. The men slept in the main school and the ladies in the south school. The large hall near the Post Office was used as a dining room. The majority of the delegates arriving Saturday week were given a civic welcome. Business matters relating to the young mens and young womens organisations respectively were attended to. Each days programme devoted tlie morning to study circles under capable leaders or addresses on suitable subjects, such as experiences in special fields of work, and teachers classes were also held. Tlie afternoons were devoted to recreations, tennis, cricket, sea bathing, etc., and also a garden party in the girl’s High School grounds on Thursday, and sports on the Boys IJigh School grounds on Friday. Quite -successful evening meetings were made interesting by a rota of speakers 'local and visiting ministers.

An important statement was made on Thursday evening by Professor Ilowitson (Knox College) on the effect of 'sid adverse exchange rates on the remits for salaries to New .Zealand Church missionaries in India and China especially the latter. The present rates require 70 per cent more for India and for China 150 per cent more, the value of the sovereign having dropped from 15 to 9 rupees in the former aiul from 10 Chinese dollars to 4 in the latter. To maintain the latter, salaries, some £7,000 a year was needed and an effort should be. made to raise an emergency fund of £IO,OOO. Professor Henderson urged delegates to make the situation known when they returned home. The Conference, which closed yesterday was favoured with fine summer weather, and visitors eulogise the arrangements for their convenience and comfort, the jcfordJal reception, and the value of teaching, encouragement and inspiration received.

The Australian Christian Students Conference opened at Geraldine yesterdayfi about a hundred delegates being wlcome by the Mayor (Mr B. R. MacDonald), Rev. John ' Hackerizie (former ly of St "Andrews, Christchurch, and now of Tooralc, Melbourne, (an old Geraldine boy), presided over the Conference.