WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 6

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The annual meeting of the ministers and office-bearers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in ‘ the Wellington district, commenced in the vestry of the Manners-street Church on November 12th, and concluded on the 15th. Owing to various unfavorable circumstances about one-half of those expected to be present were unable to attend. The meeting was presided over by the Rev, A. Reid, chairman of the district, and the following ministers were also present:—Revs. J. B. Richardson, W, G. Thomas, W. J. Williams, E. Noilsen (Scandinavian missionary), and Heteraka Warihi (Maori missionary). On Thursday, the day of the financial district meeting, the ministers were joined by the following lay officers of the Church: —Messrs. 1). Lewis, W. Clark, J. Fitchetfc, J. Knight, and W. Crowther. The Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected secretary to the meeting, and in his unavoidable absence, owing to illness and death in his home, the duties of the secretariat were discharged by the Rev. W. G. Thomas. Leave of absence was granted to the Rev. W. C. Oliver, of Napier, who had been recently been laid aside from his work by illness ; and also to the Rev. W. L. Salter, of Gisborne, who had but lately gone to his circuit. . Two candidates for the ministry were brought forward for examination, and after the meeting had considered the reports of their sermons and the results of their literary and theological papers, one of them, Mr. Slade of Masterfcou. late of England, was cordially recommended to be received by Conference with a view to his being sent to the Theological Institution at the Three Kings, Auckland. At the financial meeting it was reported that the following new erections had been undertaken during the year :—Wellington circuit, a new schoolroom at Thorndon, to cost about £320 ; Greytown circuit, a new church at Masterton, cos dug £6BO ; Napier circuit, a new manse, costing £2lO ; Norsewood Scandinavian settlement, nine acres of land acquired and a house built, costing £2lO, The following sums bad been raised during the year for the various counectioual funds : Aged ministers’ fund, £Bl 15s. ; children’s fund, £7l Bs. ; education fund, £3O 10s, ; foreign missions, £34 ss. ; home missions, £lB7 10s. The above sums represent what has been raised in the district in addition to the support of the circuit ministers and local church ordinances. A request was laid before the meeting from the Scaudanavian settlers at Mauriceville, who were prepared to build a church and parsonage and to give the necessary land if a home missionary could be sent to reside there. It was decided to recommend the request to the favorable consideration of the Conference; also the employment of Mr. O. Christophersou as home missionary. Resolutions were submitted to the meeting from the Christchurch Book Committee, with regard to a weekly issue of the “ New Zealand Wesleyan.” The meeting expressed its approval of the proposed alteration, and recommended it favorably to the notice of the Conference. The Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected district representative to accompany the chairman to the Conference to be held in Auckland in January next. The lay members of the Conference will be elected by the various circuits $t the December quarterly meeting.