PUKEKOHE METHODIST CIRCUIT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 217, 13 October 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE METHODIST CIRCUIT.

The quatterly meeting of the Pukekohe Methodist Circuit was held in the church at Pukekohe on' Saturday, October 7th. The superintendent of the circuit, the Rev. J. B. Suckling, presided over a good attendance of officials, representatives being present from Waiau, Karaka, Rama Rama, Bombay, Buckland and other preaching places. The chairman reported that the members' roll had been revised and that there was an increase of six members for the quarter. Messrs T. G. Usher and J. Patterson were appointed auditors of the circuit accounts for the ensuing year. Home Missionary meetings are to be he'd throughout the circuit during the quaiter and church anniversaries at Pukekohe, Bombay and Tuakau. Excellent leports of the work in the Sunday schools at Pukekohe, Buckland, Bombay, Tuakau and Karaka were submitted by representatives. The Rev. J. B. Fuckling was heartily thanked for his efforts on behalf of Foreign Missions, the annual collection having realised upwards of £llO, an amount which was considered highly satisfactory. The Pukekohe Church's share of this amount totalled £SO and established a record. The boundary line defining the Pukekohe and Papakura circuits, as arranged by a committee representing both circuits, was adopted. ] The senior circuit steward pre-, sented the balance sheet for the: quarter. This showed the income, i on circuit account only, to have been' £9O, and the expenditure, with debit: balance brought forward, £lO9, a debit of £l9 being thus carried for-! ward. The desirability of adopting a 1 more reliable method of contributing; to the working expenses of the cir- ' cuit was fully discussed, and it was ' decided to recommend the churches' in the circuit to adopt the envelope system.

It was resolved to hold a circuit convention upon a date to be ar-, ranged. The chairman reported the ac- ( quisition by gift of the Karaka LandBoard of an excellent site at Earaka and a cordial vote of thanks, to be conveyed to the Board, was carried. The chairman also referred to pro-1 posed additions to the Pnkekohe and'j Buckland churches and to improve-1 ments at Tuakau. 1 A very cordial invitation was ex-1 tended to the Rev. J. B. Suckling toy labour a second year in the circuit, 3 warm tributes being paid to the I excellency of his work during the six j months of hi i residence in the cir-1 cuit. Mr Buckling, in reply, saidj that on his own and Mrs Suckling's] behalf he experienced great pleasureli in accepting the invitation. They bad been very much "at home'T ! and he was thoroughly enjoying hiaj work as their minister. , i

Mr Davis, Home Missionary stationed at Bombay, was also cordially

invited to continue his ministrations! until the end of the connexional' year, appreciative references being made to his work in the circuit.; Financial considerations to determine at the December quarterly meeting' whether an invitation will be extended to a married Home Missionary to labour in the circuit during

next connexional year. Messrs F. Bouster and 0. Avery were appointed representatives to the annual syDod and Messrs Stevenson and Patterson substitute representative.

Kindly references were made to the late Mr Hugh Barber and Lieut. Sheridan, of the Theological College, the latter having occupied pulpits in the circuit upon several occasions and who had laid down his life in France in the cause of Empire and freedom. Votes ef condolence with the relatives of both the abovenamed were passed, the members standing. Afternoon tea was dispensed by ladies of the congregation, to whom appreciative thanks were extended. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Saturday, January 7th.