WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1467, 26 November 1881, Page 3

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Thb minibfcers attending this meeting assembled on November 24tb, in the PittStreet school-room, Auckland. There •were present at the openisg session: Rove. Morley, (chairman of the district), Buddie, Hobbs, Waliis, Whewell, Gittos, Bull, Watkin, Barber, Dewsbury, Bond, Griffin, Spenoe, Satter, Isitt, Slade, Dellow, Hudson, and Caughey.— The chairman gave out hymns 478 and 431. — The chairman welcomed to the meeting the Revel Oliver, Barber, Dellow, Slade, and Pinfold. In his opening address the chairman referred in sympathetic language to the ministers arid'laymem of the WesleyauChuroh who •were lost in the Tararua, and expressed thankfulness that no miniBters had died during the year in the Auckland District. He 1 emph&sized the necessity of church extension^ and the importance of exercising care in the taking, up of new stations. He referred to the General Conference of Adelaide, and the (Ecumenical Council just held in London, drawing attention to the growth and influence of the Methodist Church, In conclusion, he expressed the hope that the proceedings of the district meeting wonldbe conducted harmoniously, and that while the ministers differed in opinion they would love as brethren. The meeting then proceeded to elect oifioeffl. The llev. H. Bull was eleoted secretary, « the, Rev. , JL > Dewabnry assistant • secretary, and the> Re*. W. C. , Oliver- corresponding r ,, secretary. The- hours of session were, fixed as follows: morning, 9.30 till 1; afternoon, 2 till 5. .Variqus ,pther appointments were rfis.de, viz. : preaching appointments throughout the-Auckland Circuits, and ministers to deliver addresses, at various "church, anniversaries: Revs. Salter, Spenoe, Barber .and Dellow at Grafton-road anniversary, ai\d Revs. Oliver, Hudson and Blade; at Parnell. Theßsy. W. Watkin, Thames, applied fc> bcjted W thftiiptof eupcraumerarieß

on, the ground, of i failing health. The chairman and several .other ministers expressed regret that this should be necessary. On the motion of the Rev. T. Buddie, it waft resolved to recommend that Mr Watkin be made a supernumerary for one year, with the hope that by the end of that time that his health will be restored. It is estimated that the ministerial business will be completed by Saturday, and that the financial meeting, ' of which laymen are members, will take place on Monday, and that the meeting will close its session on Tuesday. — (Own Correspondent.)

Bold Engineering.— The high and almost perpendicular banks of the Hudson river, near Cornwall (U.S.), are at this time daily awarming with men, dinging like lizards to the face of the rock, and working 75 feet above the surface of the water. Here and there are labourers hanging (for the foot-hold they obtain is hardly worthy of the name) by ropes fastened many feet above their heads, and circling their waists. As a' steamer was recently passing this point, the passengers gazed in amazement at the singular spectacle ; and when one of the men, turning towards the steamboat, waved his hand, cheered, and falling off, swung for a moment, and then, getting his feet to their former place on the rock, renewed his work at cutting into its face, the spectators from the river sent back an answering cheer as the boat swept around the point that hid the workmen from their sight and left them discussing what they had just seen. These men are employed by the Ontario and Western Railroad Company, constructing the new North River railroad, which is to run from Jersey city to Cornwall, and thence west to Middletown. The country through which it passes is so rocky and mountainous that much of the work has to be done by blasting, and this is especially the case between Wefat Point and Cornwall. At West Point, a tunnel 150 feet deep and 500 feet long, has been cut through Target Hill, and many other bores, nearly as extensive, have been made. But the point already mentioned, near Cornwall, presented, perhaps, the greatest difficulties to the engineers and contractors. About 80 men are employed there, aDd they are selected on account of their activity and freedom from nervousness. The workmen are for the most part Italians, who are considered best adapted to this peculiar work, not only because they are lithe, light, and active, but on account of their ability to endure the fierce heat that beats down on the exposed face of the rock.