WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4649, 28 November 1883, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

. ""■■ This day.' ; Wesleyaa Conference.At the Wesleyan District Meeting, it was resolved that New Zealand be constituted a separate and independent conference ; tbat the Conference be recommended to consider the advisableness of requesting the General Conference to send to New Zealand the Rev. — Edwards, a young man of the Chinese mission in j Victoria, to consider the spiritual need of ! the Chinese in this colony. Eeference ! was made to the deaths of the Revs. Buddie, Hobbs, and Warren; men who had done pioneer and noble work. Mr Mcßeth contradicts the statement that he is the author of the letter of the Maori members to the Aborigines' Protection Society. The following is Mr Mcßeth's version :—"During last session 1 was asked by Mr Tawhai, who met me in Molesworth street, to attend a meeting of Maoris, including four members whom I had not seen or bad communicated with for twelve months. The letter was the joint production of the meeting, and its substance had, I believe, been before thoroughly discussed in Maoriland. I wish it to be distinctly understood that I did not even suggest that the letter should be written, and the Maoris probably consulted me merely because they knew me to be one of those who objected to the illegal treatment of. the Maoris on the West Coast. The statement that the letter was offered to the Press is quite true. I offered it tt the manager of the Press Association. Since its publication in Great Britain, I thought that course might prove the most expeditious way of raising money to | transact a little business in the interest of the Maoris. lam fully authorised by the Maoris to act for them in all matters relating to the letter. I told them that it mi^ht probably be necessary to publish it, and I have no doubt Major Te Wheoro would endorse my doing so."