THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4941, 23 January 1877, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The Wesleyan -Conference opened at Christchurch on Thursday. The following is • an abridgment of the reports of the Christchurch papers After the usual devotional exercises had been gone through, the Rev. A. Reid,, the retiring President, delivered an address 'dealing with various matters of interest to the Church. The roll was then called. The following ministers answered to their names,: —The Revs. T. Buddie, W. Kirk, H. H, Lawry, W. Gibbs, from Auckland district j R. Bavin, J. H. Simmonds, T. W. Isitt, from Wanganui district; A. Reid, J: B. Richardson, from Wellington ; G. S. Harper, H. Bull, from Nelson ; J. Crump, W. Moriey, J Berry, J. Wallis, W. Lee, W. H. Beck, J. A. Taylor, J. Luxford, Cannell, and Fairclough, of Canterbury, |and D. McNicoll, of Otago, . The ballot was then taken for the election of officers. Tor. the Presidency the votes were—Rev. J. Crump,’ 1; Rev. T. Buddie, 6 ; Rev. W. Kirk, of Auckland, 13. Mr. Kirk was therefore dec ared President. For the office of secretary the vqtea were—Bev. A. R. Fitohett, 1.; Rev. J. Criimp, 6 ; and the Bev. W. Moriey, 13. The Bev. B. Bavin was appointed assistant secretary ; the ReV, W. H. Beck, journal secretary ; and the Rev. W. Lee, corresponding secretary. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring President (Mr. Reid), and to the secretary to! the Conference (Mb. Crump). The Revs. Buddie, Fitchett, Richardson, and Moriey were appointed a committee' to revise the standing orders.: . • ■ Oh Friday, in an interesting address to the Conference, the President referred to the fact that he was the first Wesleyan Missionary appointed to the Canterbury province, and was accustomed in the early'days to preach in a small carpenter’s shop,’which'was then large enough for all the Methodists and other nonconformists who met for worship in Christchurch. - It was pleasant -to -refer - to-the progress made-in the meantime.;He accepted the chair with considerable diffidence,;, yet with confidence in God and the, , kindness and. Bvmpathy.of. the brethren. It*was agreed, an the motion .of -, th®. Rev- D- McNjccol, JH>at the., bhurohi doors ’bo opened ,to the public, on each "Jay r at |1 1 .So’. The Conference then proceeded With the 'usual- questions; . fixing the order of business. The Rev. B.j,Dewsbury,’ of, Otago, has served, the usual four years) probation, but it was! agreed in consequence. ...of) bis .continued ill-health to continue hipa on probation: for'another year! The afternoon, session was, chiefly devoted to the'consideration of a report presented,by_the.Board.of Examiners respecting .the! probationers) /studies., Messrs. -Fair-, dough,l 'Russell; ahd ’ Luxford _passed' with credit’ !in their respective years. . Special difficulties arose in respect to the cases of two other probationers, one of whom was designed for ,Ma()ri' .