WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1553, 19 March 1872, Page 3

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The Conference recently held in Melbourne was probably the largest ecclesiastical assembly ever seen in the southern hemisphere. Over a hundred ministers were in attendance, the majority being from Victoria ; but there were also representatives present from the colonies of New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, and New Zealand. The following ministers from this colony attended the session :•— Revs. J. Buller, C. W. Rigg, T. Buddie, W. J. Watkin, A. Reid, W. Morley, A. R, Fitchett, and R. Bavin. G. Manchester, Esq., of Timaru, also attended the Lay Committees. The session commenced on Thursday, January 18, and continued 15 |days ; there being several matters of importance discussed. In addition to the usual business of receiving candidates for the Ministry, th 6 examination of probationers, and the stationing of the ministers for the ensuing year, the great question was that of some change in the present mode of government. It has been felt for several years past that the oxisting arrangement by which the interests of thd church in various colonies, stretching from Queensland in the North to New Zealand in the South, and from Swan River in the West to Sydney in the East, are committed to the care of one Conference, meeting annually in Australia, not only involved a large expenditure of money and time, but was productiveof great inconvenience. A proposal has frequently been debated for having an annual Conference in each colony with a general Conference of representatives meeting every three or four years. At the late session it was resolved by a vote of 74 to 15 that the time for such a change had now fully come. On a motion that the number of annual Conferences be four, an amendment was moved by the Rev. C. W. Kigg that New Zealand be attached to the Sydney or Eastern Conference. The remainder of the New Zealand representatives were strongly in favor of a separate Conference for this colony, and Mr Rigg's views met with little sympathy, only two others voting with him. Ultimately, the original motion was carried, which provides for the establishment of four annual Conferences, viz., 1. NewSouth Wales and Queensland ; 2. Victoria and Tasmania ;3. South Australia ; and 4. New Zealand ; with a Q-eneral Representative Conference meeting triennially. There must necessarily be a delay of twelve months before this plan can be brought into operation in order that the sanction of the British Conference may be obtained. A new code of Rules for the management of Sunday schools was adopted, and a Committee appointed to consider the propriety of building a Theological Institute in Victoria. The following are the appointments for New Zealand for the year 1872-73 :— NORTHERN DISTRICT. Auckland—Revs. C. W. Rigg, W. Oliver, J. «T. Lewis ; Revs. Hobbs, Lawry, and Smith, Supernumeraries. Thames — Revs. J. Buller and W. J. Williams. Otdhuhu and Waiuhu — Rev. R. S. Bunn ; Revs. Wallis, Warren, and Butler, Supernumeraries. Waihato — Rev. J. Law. New Plymouth— Key. J. Crump. "Raglan — Rev. C. A. Schnackenburg. Waipara — Rev. W. Gittos. Hokianga—Rev. W. Rowse. MIDDLE DISTRICT. Wellington— "Revs. T. Buddie and J. 5. Smalley. The Hutt—~Rev. G. S. Harper. Greytoivn — Rev. D. M'Nicoll. Whanganui — Rev. J. Berry ; Rev. G. Stannard, Supernumerary. Rangitikei — Rev. W. J. Harper. Blenheim — Rev. J. B. Richardson. Nelson — Rev. W. J. Watkin, Rev. W. Cannell (Richmond,}. Motueha — One to be sent. Greymouih — Rev. J. A. Taylor. KoJcitiJca—Rev. W. G. Thomas. Ross — Rev. H. Dewsbury. SOUTHERN DISTRICT. ChristcJiurch — Revs. A. R. Fitcbett and W. B. Martin. St. Allans — Rev. W. Kirk; Rev. J. Aid red, Supernumerary. Lyttelton — Rev. W. Morley. Springston — Rev. W. Keall. Kaiapoi — Revs. R. Bavin and H. J. C. Gilbert. Timaru — Revs. W. Lee and G. E. Hewlitt. Waihouaiti — Rev. T. F. Reeve. Port Chalmers — Rev. J. T. Shaw. Dunedin — Rev. A. Reid. Balclutha — Rev. F. W.-Isitt. Laiorence — Rev. H. Bull. Roxburgh — Rev. W. H. Beck. Invercargill — Rev. J. S. Bishworth. Oatnaru — One to be sent. Queenstown — One wanted.