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 purchased for £30 in 1876, and later extended and improved. Dr. Simpson occupied this as a residence in 1880 after the departure of Rev. C. Penney. These prices indicate the rapid decrease in population and the consequent decline in value of house-property. A few years later, dwellings were unsaleable excepting for dismantling by purchasers who could make use of the timber or roofing-iron.

In 1896 the United Methodist Free Church and the Bible Christian Church became united with the Wesleyan Church, and in 1913 the Primitive Methodist Church also united; the four making the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Sections 349 (the church site) and 350 (the second parsonage site) were Crown Grants made on 12th July, 1878, to the Rev. Samuel McFarlane, of Christchurch, for the United Methodist Free Church, of which he was Superintendent. Section 351 was also Church property, being a Crown Grant of 24th August, 1871, to Mary Mason who transferred it to Henry Masters, who in turn transferred it to the church. Originally, the church site was held under a “Business license.”

Early Committee-men were:


 * 1867— —. Hudson, G. O. Clayton, T. Crumpton, —. Renton, H. Masters, Richard Green, Snr., —. Bruce, —. Leggatt.
 * 1868—Chas. Gasquoine, —. Alexander, Isaac Scott, W. J. Moore, H. G. A. Wandrum, —. Finlay, —. Brent, G. R. Brown, —. Ross, —. Sorin.
 * 1869.— —. Godhard, Richard Green, Jnr., —. Fraser, Chas. Bowater, Walter Cato, W. H. Franklin.
 * 1870—John Dick, Conrad Krongsgrill.
 * 1871—Samuel Hardley, John Beck, Gilbert Harper.
 * 1873—Wm. Wormington.
 * 1874—Hugh Edwards, Wm. Sutherland.
 * 1876—Alfred Peters, Wm. Stephenson.
 * 1878— —. Issell,.C. Woodhead, —. Lander.
 * 1879—J. Hartill.

In each case with others of previous years.

Secretaries—G. O, Clayton, 1867; Henry Masters from March, 1868, to March, 1878. The latter was presented with