THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE AND MEMBERS LOST IN THE TAEARUA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 144, 18 June 1881, Page 3

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE AND MEMBERS LOST IN THE TAEARUA.

ought to express some practical sympathy for the bereaved families. In his opinion the discussion of New Zealand affairs should not be influenced by this event, and as far as possible he thought they should give New Zealand Methodism what it asked.

At the meeting of the "Wesleyau Conference in Adelaide, on May 12fch, the Rev. J. B. Stephenson stated that it; was his'inournful duty to formerly report to the Conference that by the wreck of Ihe Tararua five members of the Conference met their death, though he had personal acquaintance with only two of those brethren, he, in common with otheia, held them all in very high esteem and love for the sake of their work and their character. He would not presume to make any reflections on the sad event by which they were all bowed down with sorrow. He had a mournful pleasure in moving the following resolution : — " That having received formal informatfon of the wreck of tbe Tararua, and the consequent less of the lives of five members of the Conference, viz , the 3^ev. Joseph Waterhouse, J. B. Richardaoii, (president of the New Zealand Conference), and John Armitage, aud Messrs E. Connall and E. Mitchell, this Conference desires to reverently exprees its submission to the mysterious dispensation of Divine Providence by which it has been bereaved of these beloved and honored brethren. It tenders its sympathy to the New Zealand and Victoria and Tasmania Conferences, upon whom the loss falls with the most direct and painful' effect. And it condoles with the members of the bereaved families of the five brethren named, and commends them to the prayerful remembrance of our church throughout the colonies." The" Ihv. W. Morley, of New Zealand, said that in seconding the resolution he wished to bear some testimony concerning the work and character of their lost brethren. The Rev. J. B. Richardson was the son of a Wesleyan minister, and his acquantance with the laws and usages of Methodism was simply perfect. His work in his circuits had been most faithful, diligentj and successful. He had been appointed to some laborious positions, and had never shrunk from tbe toil and self-sacri-fice involved by such appointments. He ! had been elected last year to tbe Chairmac ship of the Canterbury district, one of the largest districts in New Zealand, and during the present year to the Presidency of the New Zealand Conference. He had shrunk from these honours, but he had discharged their duties with most marked ability and success. The Rev. John Armitage was probable known to none present except the brethren from New Zealand, but he was highly esteemed in his own colony. He was received into the ministry seven years ago, having been previously employed as a local preacher, and was greatly esteemed. His health, which had not been good, greatly improved from the time of hia reception into the work, and he had done his work well. He was' an exceedingly able and well - read theologian, and a man of first-rate literary attainments. It had been hoped that he would be able to render service to the Church in these respects. He had left eight children to mourn their loss. The two lay brethren lost in the 2\rarua were men of great valne to the Church in New Zealand. Mr Connall was a Scotchman, had formerly been a Presbyterian, was converted into the Wesleyan Church, and had been a most zealous and earnest member of the Church. He was without exception the best extemporaneous speaker he (Mr Morley) had ever known. He was a local preacher, always welcome to the congregations. He bad also a wonderful aptitude for dealing with the young, and had been very successful in his work amongst young men. His absence from among them would be greatly ielt. Mr Mitchell was also a local preacher and a class leader. He ' had been. a school- master, but had retired from that occupation and had devoted himself to evangelistic services in Canterbury. Of the Rev. J. Waterhouse he (the speaker) did not know bo much as he did of the others ; but he might say that in JNew Zealand he was loved for his father's sake. His fa ther (the Hey. John Waterhouse) was held in great esteem by their Church.' The son had visited New Zealand some years ago, and by his fervour and power had created an interest in himself and his own career, and had been ever since remembered with affection. As yet they could scarcely realise their loss, and he supposed they would not until they met next year in annual Conference, and felt the gap made in their number. The Rev. G-. Daniel eaid that he desired to speak a few words as representing Victoria, and to express his sense of the loss they had sustained in the death of Mr Waterhouse. That gentleman had been a faithful and laborious missionary, and ever had the mission cause at heart. Mr Moxam, of New Zealand, said he was unequal to the task of speaking much on that occasion. They felt their loss to be very heavy indeed, but they rejoiced that their brethren had been faithful men. The Hon. J. Colton remarked that he also could hardly trust himself to speak. The first impression which existed when the sad news of the Tararua disaster arrived was that all the representatives from New Zealand had been lost. It afterwards transpired that matters were not' so bad as that, but still they were bad enough. It was a remarkable dispensation of Providenco, to which they must; bow. God had done all things well, and no doubt the reason of this dealing would be clear by-and-by. He had known Mr Waterhouse, biit the others who were lost he hnd not been acquainted with, and he •was much, obliged to Mr ~M.orley for tlae clear and interesting report he had given concerning the lost brethren. Scarcely any people here had possessed the information now placed before them, and. many would be glad, as he was, to know how they had lived and what service they, had rendered. They had worked well for the great Master, and now they had gone to their reward. He knew Mr Waterhouso well, and should not soon forget him. Mr Waterhouse came here in the year 1847. He was a Sunday-school worker with him (Mr Colton) in Franklyn-street, and was a most earnest and devoted worker. He sympathised greatly with JTew Zealand in the loss sustained by $&f; colony;, nn4 thought perhaps thejr