hurst. A mining centre in importance second only to Ballarat. We have a very fair brick church here, and two of wood in the neighbourhood. Brother Ross has been indefatigable in his efforts during the last year, and he has not laboured in vain. The increase reported was 13, and 23 were retained on trial. Brother Ross has been reappointed.

(14) Heathcote.-Thirty miles S.E. of Sandhurst is the township of Heathcote. The circuit, of which this is the head, is an extensive one-about 35 miles in length by 25 in breadth, and contains six churches and three other preaching places. It is wrought by two preachers, one living in Heathcote, and the other at Tooleen. Brothers Lenton and Bird were stationed there last year. Some unfortunate events during the year militated much against the prosperity of the circuit, and resulted in a decrease of 16. Brothers Garde and Bird are the preachers for this year.

(15) Rushworth.-This circuit, which includes five or six places, is about 25 miles in length. It touches the Heathcote circuit at its western extremity. Mr. Madigan has been very diligently working here during the last year, and has had the satisfaction of reporting an increase of 17 members. He is remaining here another year.

(16) Mooroopna.-The township of Mooroopna is about 28 miles from Rushworth, on the west bank of the Goulburn River. This circuit was formerly called Toolamba; but Mooroopna being by far the largest township, and the residence of the preacher, now gives name to the circuit. We have a pretty brick church at Mooroopna, and one of wood at Toolamba. We hold service at West Mooroopna in a State school. Mr. Richards was the preacher here last year. He had the pleasure of reporting twelve increase on the year. The last District Meeting appointed me to this

circuit.

(17) Shepparton.-This rising township is on the eastern bank of the Goulburn, and only two miles or two and a half from Mooroopna. The circuit lies entirely on the eastern side of the river. This circuit, which in March, 1878, had four places and 22 members, had at the last District Meeting 13 places and 66 members, being a large increase on the year. The circuit has now been divided into the Shepparton, with five churches and two other preaching places; and the Murchison and Violet Town, with one church and five other preaching places. Mr. W. H. Bowe has been stationed at Shepparton, and is working with great vigour; and Mr. Dixon, a young man just called out, who I hope will be very useful, is at Murchison and Violet Town.

The foregoing circuits are all in Victoria. The district also contains seven other circuits, in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, and South Australia. These I will reserve for another notice. Our total membership in Victoria is 907, being an increase on the year of 108, or of something more than 14 per cent. This is a result for which I feel deeply thankful, and which will, I am sure, be very gratifying to our friends at home. That it may please the Most High still more abundantly to help us, is a prayer in which I am sure you will heartily join with me. I remain, yours truly, T. A. BAYLEY.

CHINA.

NINGPO, 1880. DEAR MR. BUSHELL,-We have had our quarterly meeting, and there was an addition of ten members on the quarter. At the two Ningpo places the finances were a little better than last quarter.

Mrs. Swallow and myself have given ourselves to teaching the members rather than to public preaching. She has taken charge of the women at Kong-tong, while I have given my attention to the other place. It is yielding fruit already in increased attendance and in ability to read; also in active work done by the members. I am wondering whether the Roman Catholics are not wiser than we are, for they seldom preach in public, but are most assiduous in teaching. Our members now willingly buy any book they want. Some come six and seven miles to a prayer-meeting, and some of them, poor as they are, have left their employ. ment rather than work on the Sabbath-day. To have fifteen members out of twenty regularly at a week-night's service, and always giving a little at the Sabbath collection, looks like solidity. The local preachers are improving so much that the evangelist can go away into the country for two or three weeks, his work at

Ningpo being efficiently attended to by the local preachers. I am hoping they wil be able to do outdoor preaching in a year's time. There is so much to be done one feels disappointed when we are not able to do all we intended doing.

We must have the Kong-tong Chapel up this year, as the other place is now uncomfortably filled on a Sabbath, and if we intend increasing we must commence with the other place at once.

Mrs. Swallow is sending an account of her work to "Woman's Work in China." You shall have a copy for the Committee's inspection when published.

I should like to open an hospital for opium-smokers. I shall try it on a small scale. One doctor offers me medicine for it cheap. I have been able to supply our preachers with medicine, and some have done good with it. One of our preachers told me that in three years he has saved upwards of 200 from death by opium poisoning. You have no conception of the terrible evil opium is in China. We are also organising anti-opium societies in Ningpo and other places. I hear Mr. Taylor, of the Inland Mission, is going to open opium refuges at all his preaching stations. If he does so he will touch the pockets and hearts of both foreigners and natives. I am happy in saying that, so far, we are all in good health.-Yours truly, R. SWALLOW.

EAST AFRICA.

CHEETHAM HILL, RIBE.

DEAR SIR,-In my letter of last month I informed you that the chapel at the neighbouring town (Kaya) would be open on the week following that in which I wrote. We were unfortunate not to have Mr. Ramshaw to be with and help us, circumstances having delayed our opening service until the 11th inst., yet I am very glad to write you that the place has been opened for divine worship.

On that day we had service in our own place (Ribe) in the forenoon, when nineteen persons-sixteen adults and three children-were baptized; these had been under Christian instruction since my arrival at Ribe, and as I am understanding the language a little now, and they evinced a desire to cast in their lot in with us, having made a public profession to give up their customs and notions of heathenism, they were initiated into the Christian Church by baptism.

In the afternoon all the members of the Church were assembled for prayer for God's blessing on the service to be held in the Kaya, after which all of us marched in single file to the above place, and the opening services were conducted, and the chapel dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. This place, as you will have known from Mr. Wakefield, is the strongest hold for vice, and the chief seat of the Ribe Wanykas their metropolis, so to speak. At the close of the service I gave out to those who attended that whoever of them desired to join the Church should stand up and give their names. Twenty-two stood up and gave in their names, which were accordingly written down in a class-book. A school has been commenced with twenty boys and twelve girls. Since the opening we have had for the first four days no less than thirty to fifty at daily prayers. Our prayer is that these may be enlightened and established in the truths of our holy religion, and that many more be added to the Church that shall be eternally saved.

A rumour, which created great excitement all over the country two weeks ago, that the Suhahelis are preparing to make war on all the Mission stations to get back their slaves, was somewhat alarming. It in some measure subsided as soon as they heard that the missionaries of the Church Missionary Society had sent to the British Consul.

man

I have commenced the penny payment in the classes on the first Sunday of the present month, and, though not all of them paid, yet we realised weekly half a dollar. I made them to understand that, though it is voluntary, yet it is the duty of every who is a Christian, and more so a Methodist. I am intending, if possible, to try in course of time for our native brethren to be supported by their own people, which eventually it will come to, and my view is the sooner this is done the better. I shall want some tickets by the return of the mail, and in the parcel of tickets please send me half a dozen Bibles and half a dozen New Testaments, and half a dozen the cheapest quality of our hymn-book.-I am, dear sir, yours truly, W. H. DURING.

The Committee has granted £150 towards the chapel at Kong-tong.-R. B.

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CONNEXIONAL TREASURER

FOR THE GENERAL MISSION FUND UP TO DECEMBER 12, 1880.

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RECEIVED TOWARDS THE SUMS PROMISED

FOR THE HOME MISSION CHAPEL EXTENSION FUND

THE friends whose promised contributions have not all been paid, are reminded that remittances for the Home Mission Chapel Extension Fund may be made to the Secretary, ROBERT BUSHELL, 41, Wilkinson-street, Sheffield; or to the Treasurer, H. T. MAWSON, Esq., Harrogate. Instalments become due on the 1st of March in each year.