THIS MORNING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 24, 28 January 1881, Page 2

THIS MORNING.

After devotional exercise the roll was called, and 54 members answered to their names. The record was then read and approved. The report of the Committee appointed in connection with the (Ecumenical Cougress was read and discussed. It was adopted in the following form :— That this Conference be represented by one Minister and one layman ; that the Rev A. Reid be the Ministerial representative the voting being, Rev Reid 20, Rev Morley 17, Rev Buddie 11 ; that Mr J. Ballantyne now in London be the lay representative ; that the expenses of the Ministerial representative be £300, including cost of supplying bis place during his absence ; that tbe sum named be raised by private subscriptions, and that the list be opened in the Conference; that Messrs G. Gould and C. W. Turner of Chriatchurch be appointed General Treasurers ; that Messrs Edson and Hobbs of Auckland, Messrs George (New Plymouth) and Harvey of Wanganui, Messrs Cock and Harkness of Nelson, Messrs Trustin, Moxham, and Peacock (Napier) of Wellington ; Messrs Harris Manchester (Waimate), and Jackson (Timaru) of Canterbury, Dr Burrows, and Messrs Hainea (Dunedin), Brown, and Wesney (Invercargill) of Otsgo, be the District Treasurers ; that the subscription list bo closed on March 31st. The Rev Thomaß Buddie read a lengthy report" of thb Executive Committee of the Home Mission Fund. It showed that the income from voluntary subscriptions fell considerably below the estimate, and that the insolvency of a trustee had involved some loss of income from property. Tbe report dealt fully with all the doings of the Committee, and contained many useful recommendations. The report was received, but could not be adopted without lengthy discussion as to details. Tho debate was proceeding when the Conference adjourned for dinner. The moßt important recommendations were that graDts to English Circuits be reduced by twenty per cent, and grants for furniture by fifty per cent. The balancesheet will be presented in our next.