WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 18, 19 January 1876, Page 4

WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(2V. Z. Times, January 14) The first meeting of the Wesleyan Conference for the session of 1876 wa* held laat evening in the Wesleyan Church, Manners-Rtreet, the public being admitted. The attendance wae not small, despite the unfavorable Weather, The Rev. Jambs Buller (President) opened the proceeding by calling over the names of the brethren, in order that those who were present might take their seats on the benches set apart for members of the Confer ence. After this the Rev. Mr. Reid read b chapter from the Scriptures, and tbt Rev. Mr. Kirk offered up a prayer. The Rev. Jambs Buller then rose, and Baid it gave htm great pleasure to be present: at this their third annual Conference in New Zealand Thai they had been spared throughout another year was a cause for great thankfulness, and he felt extremely grateful for that, since they had elected him to the, high; office of President, he had been spared from experiencing any heavy cares. Their General Conference, meanwhile, ha;i held its first scbaion in the city of Melbourne, at which aIP their representatives were present, and they knew from the published .minutes what amount of business had been transacted there. One of the most important, matters that came under the consideration of the Supreme Conference was' that of the adoption of a plan for the representation of the laity in all conferences, and it was to be regretted that that plan could not be put into effect now, because tbe consent of the British Conference had yet to be obtained. During the year they -had received the gracious assurance of a tendency to revivalism in another, land, and be hoped that they wonld witnaes still greater achievements.* If he might speak of himself lie would say that he was very grateful for the fair measure of health and happiness with which a merciful God had blessed him daring his official year, though be felt occasionally evidences .0f... failing power. Through the. prayers of his brethren he had by God's mercy been carefully preserved, and he . could say with thankfulness that he never loved his brethren more than he did now. He had never appreciated more the special' advantages with which they * were blessed, and had never rejoiced more in the success of any Christian efforts than he did now. From the experience of age he looked back upon .the past with mingled feelings of plea sure and hope. In the year 1836 he landed and commenced his work iv this ...country* Few were now left who were then dwellers in the land. Many of ''them "were embalmed in his affections, and their memory was blessed. What changes had been seen since that time! How far was it from his foodest dreams in tboee days that be should ever be present at a Conference of tbe members of the Church in New Zealand ; and . most of all, bow little did be then dream that hie should be their President! He dare -.not ..trust himself to dwell upon , the vivid remembrances of by-gone days,' and yet there was one subject Wbicb be did not like to forego. Id the summer of 1839 he was requested by hiß brethren to undertake c journey ■to. Port Nicholson — which was then the name ot this harbor— io order to establish a. Dew mission for the instruction of the Maoris of the place, who were at that time very numerous. He came from Hokianga, which was then a matter of six weeks' journey, there being in those days no railways, coach, or horse roads. He remembered well the incidents of that journey. Everywhere the Maoris were , building churches, learning to read, and eager for religious instruction. Arriving in Wellington, he pitched his calico tent within Te •Aro pah ;•— -if not on the very spot on which be now stood, it was somewhere near it. There was only one man residing there then, and he lived in a primitive hut, and whilst he (tbe speaker) was soldiering here in the service of God, the first batch of iminigrauta arrived in the harbor in the ahip Aurora, under command of Captain Heald, now connected with the survey department in Auckland, and he was received by' the captain in a most gentlemanly and friendly maaner. He went on board the ship and there preached the first English sermon ever delivered on the Wellington waters, and to over 500 souls. Not long after this ' he returned to the Nortb, and there had the honor of being introduced to the first Goveruor of New Zealand at the Bay of Islands. Soon after this another band ot missionaries came to strengthen our bauds Irom tbe old country, and from the time of their arrival few of our brethren had come to this colony whom he bad not had the pleasure of welcoming to their work. He returned to Wellington in 1855 very soon after which the second great earthquake was experienced. From that time until be was removed, native wars prevailed at Te Aro, Hutt, Porirou, and elsewhere; but peace was ..eventually established, and tbe missionaries were enabled to Übor with, profit. Could be call around him all bis , brethren, be should recognise some in Whose ordination he bad been privileged to take purt j and be might say that ihe little one had become a thousand " and the hcnall one a great nation, buc "he might as truly say that the harvest still was great, but the laborers few, £fa expected to have the privilege of

being present at the next British Conference in Nottingham; and he should be glad if they invested him with '.he power to secure for them ibe services of suitable and able young men, since he knew it was their opinion that this was the great want under which they labored *t the present time. From the beginning of his ministry he did not remember any district meeting or any Conference meeting in this country from which he had the misfortune to be absent ; and it was with peculiar regret and tender feeling that he had to say tbat this would be, at least for a considerable period, the last opportunity of the kind he Bbould enjoy. He was happy to think, however, tbat he should carry with them their confidence, and *nj»y the benefit of their prayers ; and he hoped he should live in their affections, as he could assure them they would live in his. Whether he ever came to see them again, or was otherwise called, he trusted in their working together for the faith of the Gospel, which to their adversaries would be a I token of perdition, but to them of salvation. Having said the few words tie had thought it his duty to address to them, he would not trespass wny longer en their time or attention, but would call upon them to elect by ballot that one among them who should be his successor in office. The members were provided with slips of paper, and the result of the voting resulted in favor of Bro. Reid, who was declared by Mr. Buller to be duly elected. The Rev. James Buller congratulated the successful candidate upon his election, and expressed confidence that he would fill the post more worthily and ably than hie predecessor had been able to do. He earnestly prayed that God would bleßs and preserve him during bis occupancy of that official position, and that he would have the satisfaction of seeing the word of God gloriously revealed. The Conference then proceeded to the election of other officers. The following were elected:—Secretary , Rev. J. Crump ; assistant-secretary, Rev. R. Bavin; corresponding secretary, Rev. J. B. Richardson; journal secretary, Rev. G. 8. Harper.