DUNEDIN, Tuesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1695, 17 May 1883, Page 2

DUNEDIN, Tuesday.

A conference of ministers in and around Dunechn was held to-night, to consider the question of gi\ ing religious education in schools. It was attended by muiistois and one lay representative of each congregation of every denomination, except Catholic and Jews. Bishop Neville, of the Episcopalian Church, was present. The following resolution was carried unanimously : — "This conference, recognising the fact that the Education Act affords facilities (subject to the approval of the school committees) for instruction of the children of the common schools in the Bible, hereby resolves to take immediate action to make provisions for the imparting of such instruction, and that, with a view to this, a deputation from this meeting wait upon the school committees of Dunedin an I the suburbs, and also upon the headmasters of the schools." A deputation *.vas appointed, but considerable discussion arose upon the question whether the instruction should be denominational or undenominational. The Episcopalians alone stick out for the foi nier, all other demoninations wore united as agreeing to the latter. The point was, eventually, left unsettled. A lesolntion was proposed to make it undenominational, but the Episcopalians threatened to withdiaw from the whole affair it it were carried, and it was withdrawn. Last Night. Mr James Rutheiford, M.H.R. for Bruce, died to day at his residence, Kaitangata. He was in good health a week ago, but caught <v cold which brought on congestion ot the lungs. The I)a\ly Times correspondent at Roxburgh tclegiaphs that the body of a man has been found in the creek between Mu a Flat and Pomahaka river, Cheviot district. The body was covered with stones, and the head had been apparently chopped off and placed near the teet. It is believed the man was murdered and his clothes burned. Theie is still a portion of the flesh adhering to the bones, and, from the ajipcarancc of tho body, it is surmised an attempt was made to burn the body. The police have gone to the spot. The land board, to-day, granted deferred payment pastoral licenses to a number of applicants, but refused them in the cases of Thomas Johnson, Chas. Webb, D. E. Fish, and Joseph McCaw. Loutli, battery station master at Tapamii, has been arrested for embezzlement. The alleged defalcations amount to over £200. The city council have discussed advisability in bringing the " Contagious Disease Act " into operation, but no decision has been arrived at.