WESLEYAN MISSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 54, 4 March 1903, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSIONS.

TROUBLSd IN FIJI. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received i, 0.47 a m. Sydnet, March 3. The Methodist Conference decide! to appoint a married minis!er to Norfolk Inland and prec'aim it a circuit. The Rev. Brown, general seer tary of Missions, in a lengthy state meat as to church affairs in Fiji, said amongst the chief poin s for c moderation were the aggressive character of the work of the Roman OathoKc Bishop and missionaries, and ths Seventh Adventists, and tha large and ever increasing influx of Indians. The political unrest amongst the natives was caused in a great measure by the agita - tion in favour of fcd-uMtion with New Zealand. Tbe desire for more selfgovernment by the paopla was growing, also a desire in the minds of the Fijians for higher educ .tion. Another grievance was the poll tax. He appealed for an increase in the missionary staffimongst Iniians. In reply to a question, Mr, Brown Slid that at the swearing in of the Governor the Catholic Bishop was given the first place, the Wesleyan Chairman being relegated to an infr-rior position,