WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING, AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1470, 3 December 1881, Page 2

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING, AUCKLAND.

The business transacted at Saturday's meeting was mainly of a routine character. New erections were reported -from Pitt-street circuit, new church at Ponsonby; from Grafton road circuit, new church at Newmarket; from Waikato circuit, new church at Hamilton ; from Upper Thames circuit, new church at Te Aroha ; from Whangarei circuit, new church at Kamo ; from Pukekohe circuit, new church at Bombay. Altogether about £5200 has been expended during the year in erecting and enlarging churches. On Monday, November 28th, the financial meeting assembled at 10 o'clock in the lower schoolroom, Pitt street. For the benefit of those who are not versed in Methodist parlance, I may say that the financial meeting is a kind of committee of supply, of which circuit stewards are members. After devotional exercises the chairman (Rev. W. Morley) gave an able address, the substance of which was that the Methodist church ought at once to extend its operations. He thought the meeting ought to consider whether the time has not arrived for the establishment of a New Zealand Wesleyan loan and church building fund. He said that six additional men would be asked for this year in the Auckland district. Most of these requests could not be refused without serious injury to Methodism in the whole district. The following divisions and extension of circuits wereagreed to : —North Shore, Northcote, and Wade to be separated from Auckland Pitt-street circuit, and to have an unmarried minister ; Waikato circuit to be divided into three circuits, Hamilton and Te Awamutu to be the heads of the two new circuits ; Kaipara native work to be separated from the English work ; Kawakawa circuit to be called the Bay of Islands circuit. These resolutions were earned unanimously. It was also agreed that Waiuku and Pukekohe circuit take a married minister ; that Gisborne be relieved of its obligation to take a married minister for a year. The following circuits are to have additional ministers : — Auckland Pitt-street, one (unmarried), to reside at Mount Albert ; the resolution of the ministerial meeting, that a Maori missionary be appointed to Raglan circuit, was confirmed ; an additional native minister was appointed to Hokianga native circuit ; that a minister be appointed to Mahurangi, to reside at Warkworth, was agreed to ; also, that a minister be appointed to Coromandel and a home missionary to Whangaroa. The general returns showed an increase of English members of 1384, and a decrease of Maori members of 50. At the afternoon session, the first question considered was, what is the income of the contingent fund? This was reported at £140 8s Bd. The expenditure amounted to £54. 7s 3d. It was reported by the secretary of church properties that in the Auckland district there were 45 churches, with sitting accommodation for 10,000 persons, the total cost of these churches being £36,000. In answer to the question, what is the income of the home mission fund ? the treasurer reported that from all sources in the Auckland district they had received £906 2& 10$, The meeting voted grants of £50 to Hamilton and £30 to Te Awarautu ; also, £239 to Raglan, English and native work, the English minister to receive an addition of £30 to his stipend. The vote of £50 to Tauranga was supplemented by £40, and £100 was recommended as the grant to the circuit for the ensuing year. It was resolved to appoint a younger home missionary to Kaukapakapa and a home missionary to Whangaroa. On the motion of the Rev. H. Bull it was decided to recommend conference, in view of the increasing demand for ministers, to take ateps to procure a supply from England. The chairman announced that he had received a letter from the president of conference stating that the Rev. A. Reid - had induced one, and probably two minis* tors in England to enter the work of the Wesleyan church in this country. By a majority of one over the Rev. H. Ball, the Rev. W. J. Watkin was elected to represent the Anckland district at the ensuing conference at Christchurch. The,

educational trustees' report occupied the remainder of the session, which closed at 6 o'clock.

One important and pleasing feature in Oonneotion with the financial meeting y escaped my memory when writing the above, viz., that on the resolution of the Rev. H. Bull, seconded by Mr W. Thorne, it was resolved that " This being the last annual assembly of the Auckland District Committee prior to the removal of the Rev. W. Morley from Pitt-street, the meeting desires to place on record its appreciative sense of the efficient and valuable services rendered by Mr Morley as chairman of the district during the three years he has held that position. The efficiency and value of his services have been manifested not merely by his able presidency over the annual meetings and management of the general business of the district, but by his thorough system of official visitation throughout the extensive area lying within its bounds, so that the most remote circuits have been, from time to time, visited, and the ministers and people, counseled and stimulated in the prosecution of their woik. To the untiring energy and zeal displayed by the chairman during his term of office the district is largely indebted under God's blessing for much of the general prosperity which has been enjoyed by tho churcheo of the several circuits during the three past years." The last session of the district meeting was held on Tuesday, November 29th, at 2.30 p.m. The following ministers obtained permission to attend ihe Christchurch Conference : — Revs. T. Buddie, Oliver, Dewsbury, Hammond and Isitt. The chairman called upon the Rev. W. C. Oliver to read the twelve rules of a helper and the Liverpool Minutes, after which there was a convention on the work of God. The Rev. H. Bull expressed gratitude to God for the increase in membership and attendance, and for the general prosperity which has marked the year. He advocated the perpetuation of the old Methodist institutions, the fellowship and class meetings, and the class meeting. The Rev. G. Bond, in response to the chairman's invitation, spoke of tho success attending his labours in the Manukau circuit, notably at Onehunga andMangere. Tho Rev. "W. J. Watkin spoke of the success attenaing Mrs Hampeon's preaching at the Thames. The Rev. T. Buddie, who, speaking as an old man just putting off the harness, addressed his remarks principally to the j young ministers, urged them to be faithful in their work. It was to him a source of joy that while he and others were passing out of the work so many earnest and faithful young men were giving themselves to the work of the ministry He gave them his blessing, and wished for them much success in their labour. The chairman (Rev. W. Morley) delivered the closing address. He advised all the ministers to form proper habits of study as being most useful to them in their life's work. He thought it would be beneficial if minipters could meet together oftener, and that those in contiguous districts should meet each other at least once a quarter. He emphasized the importance of consolidating church membership, and of teaching the catechism to the young. He insisted upon the necessity of church extension, and recommended the ministers to attend more to evangolistic work and personal conversation with the members of the churches and congregations. The whole address was characterized by earnestness, thoughtfulness, and devotion to the work of the Church of Christ. — (Own Correspondent.)