WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 252, 21 November 1876, Page 2

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The annual sessions of the Wesleyan Ministers of the Nelson District were commenced in the Hardy-street Church on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. The Rev G. S. Harper, chairman of the district, presided. All the ministers in the district were present. After the usual devotional exercises, the meeting proceeded to ballot for a Secretary, when the Rev H. Bull, of Greymouth, was elected to the office. The hours of session were fixed upon, and reporters to the Press appointed, and arrangements were made for holding various meetings during the week. It was matter for gratitude that the ministerial ranks had not been thinned by death during the year. Several hours were devoted to the examination of ministerial character, and the exercise of discipline in the various circuits. The Rev G. W. Russell a probationer for the ministry, received examination papers to be filled up by him during the sessions, and transmitted to the Board of Examiners appointed by the Conference. These papers include Hebrew classics, theology, and church history A request from the Good Templar lodges to hold a temperance meeting during the district sessions was agreed to, provided suitable arrangements could be made. All the ministers in full connexion received permission to attend the Conference, to be held in Christchurch in January next. Home Missionary meetings were held in Nelson and Richmond on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, which were fairly attended, and addressed by the different ministers. The financial meeting was held on Friday when, in addition to the ministers, Messrs W. Price and E. Parker were present. The statistics of the district, as read by the Secretary, were as follows :— Churches, 22* other preaching. places, 17; ministers, e\ Sunday schools, 17; teachers, 162; scholars, 1232; local preachers, 21; class leaders, 20* full church members, 342; on trial for membership, 98; catechumens, 62; deaths, 2communicants, 39; attendants on public worship, 2140 As compared with the returns last year, this shows a nett increase of three preaching places; 34 members; 57 on trial; 27 catechumens; 198 Sunday scholars* 300 hearers; and 21 communicants. It was reported that the Blenheim parsonage had been enlarged during the year at a cost of £350, about £100 probably remaining by way of debt. Two church sites have been secured at Kumara, and permission requested to erect a church at that township should sufficient inducement offer. The balance-sheet of the Home Mission Fund was as follows :— Receipts— Nelson, £27 10sMotueka, £3; Blenheim, £15 2s 6d; Hokitika, £5; Greymouth, £10;— total, £60 12s 6d. Expenditure— Advertising, &c, £4 10s Net income, £56 2s 6d. The income for 1877 was estimated at £66. The meeting having received from the General Secretary of th« fund (the Rev T. Buddie) the '■Pro-

posed Rules and Regulations of a Home Missionary Society, for New Zealand," and naving considered the sameY recommended them to the Conference for adoption. The balance-sheet of the other funds was as follows:—!. Contingent Fund.— Receipts -^prcuit levies, M 8 ; Special allocation, £5.; S _* a __,? f C ° nfer » nc e minutes, 'llS ; total Zol !_ 3, Ex P enses -Travelling in District, *i 2 10s ; stamps, telegrams, &c, £2 16s ; total, £25 6s. 2. Supernumeries' and Ministers' Widows' *und. Income— Ministers' subscriptions, ~42 2s ; Circuit contributions, £18 18s ; Circuit collections, £37 16s ; total £100 16s. 3. Ministers' Children's Fund.— lncome— 308 members at 4s, £61 12s. Expenditure— 8 children at £8, £64. nS\F and for the Ed «ca<-ion of Ministers' Children.— lncome— Circuit collections, £11 18s sd; Ministers' subscriptions, £6 6s : total, £18 4s sd. 5. Foreign Mission Fund.— lncome, £16 9s Bd. ' The arrangements for holding missionary i meetmgs during the year were left to the several circuits. Tbe Re v H. Bull was elected lo accompany the chairman as representative of the district at the Stationing Committee and Conference. As lay members of the Financial District Committee, the meeting nominated the Circuit Stewards of the respective circuits. The state of the Nelson Trust Fund was reviewed, also the state of the District Jubilee Fund, aud recommendations were adoofced with respect to both of them. Conference was [also recommended, (1) To take steps towards the formation of a Connexional Fire Insurance Company as soon as possible. (2) That invitations to ministers he sent from the September instead of the December quarterly meeting. (3) That lay representatives of the annual Conference be also members of the Financial District meeting as wpII as the circuit stewards. (4) That steps be taken for the publication of a new Sunday school hymn-book for the use of the Wesleyan Sunday schools of New Zealand. (5) That Conference no longer delay the formation of a Sunday School Union for the whole of the colony. (6) That superintendendents of Sabbath schools, when members of the Church, shall be members of the circuit 1 quarterly meeting. n °™ evening the probationer (Rev C-. W. Russell) preached a trial sermon in the Hardy-street Church, from John xvii, after which the Lord's supper was administered to a goodly number of communicants. At a meeting of sheep-farmers held at Timaru on Wednesday, it was resolved to send an agent to Australia to engage shearers for the season. Captain John Moresby, who lately paid off the Basilisk ou her return from the Australian station, has been selected by the Admiralty to succeed Captain H. Dennis Hickley m command of the Endymion, 28, screw frigate, Coastguard ship at Hull, the latter officer's period of commaud having expired. Although (says the "Marlborough Express") the London wool market is in such a depressed condition, it still appears that some descriptions of wool are bringing comparatively high prices. We have learned that a quantity of scoured locks aud pieces belonging to a run in Awatere, sold at a J time when prices were at their worst; brought (41 bales) is 6d per lb; locks and pieces in the grease at this time were bringing from fourpence to sevenpence per lb, aud some few bales of pieces of the same brand as the 41-bale lot referred to above, but greasy, brought 7 _& only. Comment on this fact is hardly necessary, as the difference in the two prices is so palpable. The wool in question came from the Starborough Run, ar.d was scoured by Mr T. Hiley. Holloway's Pills.— Weary of Life— Derangement of the liver is one cf the most formidable causss of dangerous diseases and tl c most prolific of those melancholy forbodings which are worst than death itself A few doaes of these noted Pills act magically in dispelling low spirits ani repelling the covert attacks made on the nerves by excessive heat, impure atmosphere, over indulgence, or, exhausting c "_ci.em.nt. The moat shattered const'tutionmay derive benefit from Hollrfway'a Pills, whi h will regulate digordered action, brace the nerves, inert ase the energy of the intellects! faculties, and revive the failing memory. By attentive studying the loßi'Uctims and obtdiently putting them m practice, tbe most despondent wiil soon feel co-ifiJent of a perf«ct recovery.