The M. E. District Conference

í The District Conference of the M. E. Church for Aun Arbor District held its first semi-annua ■ sessiou in the M. E. Church, of this city, on th 12th and 13th inst. Presiding eider L. E. Fisx " D. D., presided, and Rev. L. C. Yoek, of Brigh ton, was elected Secretar}-. Menïbers of the '. Conference- viz., traveliug and local preachcrs ] exhortcrs, district stewards and Sunday school superiutendants for the entire district - were in atteudance. The resident pastors of the city wero iuvited to participate in the discussions. The gifts, labors and usefulness of each local preacher and exhorter were represented, their characters passed, and licenses renewed. Also a local preacher's license was grantei Mrs. Francés D. tí. Yoek, of Brightou. On the eveuing of the first day Eev. J. M. Fullee, of Ypsilanti, gave a lecture on " The Polity of the M. E. Cliurch," showing a unity in all its rcligious and financial economy. David Peeston, of Detroit, presented the claims of AJbion College, which were nobly responded to. A token ot regard for Presidiug Eider Fisk was presentcd on behalf of the Conference, by Dr. Cockee, consisting of a small purse of money accompanied by an appropriate address. Each session of the Conference was well atteuded, a spirit of harmony prevailed, and a work of interest to the entire district was acconiplished. The uoxt session of the Conference is to be held at Grass Lake. We give place in another column to a communication diseussing the comparativo merits oí the narrow-gaugo railroad, and comniending the same to the notice of the directora of tho Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Eailioad. The facts our correspondence gives are familiar to all who have wotched "the war of the jfauges," and may be considered indisputable. A narrow-gauge can be built for less money - he saving being in the reduced woight and cost of the iron ; can be equipped for less money - the saving being large both in locomotives and care ; and can be continually operated for less money - the saving being in repairs and restocking. The only question or the main one - narrowing it down to the T. A. A. & ïï. K.- is whether a short narrow-gauge road can be made practicaje and paofitable as a link in a system of broadgauge roads ; whether changes and transfers at connecting points - say Toledo - would not cost more than would be saved in interest on the investment. It is clainied by the Denver and Rio Grande managers, that the cost of transferring freight is but a small fraction of such iuterestj and their absolute knowledge should more than offset the mere spoculations of doubters or theorists. It is also elaimed and proven that a narrowgauge road will pay as an investmeut whero the ordinary gauge will eat up the stock o nd liever be a'source of profit to anybody but the managers. _ Conceding these facts to be facts, and also looking the obstados to a coinpletion of our road squarely in the face, and it is well for the directors to give the subject their early consideration. We have never been an advocate of the narro gauge, but we, prefer a narro w-gauge and tliat now to waiting iudefiuitely for soinethiug else. We are told that there is reasouable assurunee that bonds on the basis of a narro --gauge road can be easily placed, that capitalista who will not look at T. A. A. and N. E. bouds if a broadgauge, have confidence in a narrow-gauge as a paying road, and stand ready to put their mouoy into it. Il this be so we wave our prejudices and vote for a narrow-gauge. - We may say here that we had the pleasure of going over the Denver and Rio Grande road in the fall of 1871, from Denver to Colorado Springs ; that we wcre much pleased with its accomniodations and workings ; that we have looked at subsequent reporte of its doings with interest ; and that we f eel free to say that it has proved a success. The examinatiou of Myron Brown, whose arrest at Ypsilanti we uoticed last week, resulted in his beiug held to bail in the gum of 65,000, to answer to a charge of arson - setting firo to the M. E. Church. The people's principal witnesses were Mr. Dayis, a news dealer and S. C. Drake, constable and deputy sheriff. Mr. Drake testified to meeting Beown on Sunday eveuing, July 20th, the night of the flre ; that Biiown told hiin he had stolen the records, put them in a Lag, weighted it with iron, and sunk it in the river ; also that the Methodist Church would be bumed that night. Dbake went to find OÍficez FoitsYTH, Wt not succeeding went home and to bed, to lourn next morning that the records had been stolen and the church fired. Unexplained this statement would seom to jlace Drake in a singular position ; but we are inf ormed that he placed no confidence in the statement of Brown, and that next morning he proniptly gave inl'ormation to the Mayor, his legal advisers and ofïicer Foesyth, and that the secret was kept for sufficient reasons. - The records were recovered from the river on Wednosday, at the point indicated by Beown, and weighted as he said, thus sustaining the statement oï Mr. Drake. A warrant has been issued against Bbown on a charge of larceny, - stealing the doeket and records of Justice Cbane and the City Clerk, - which bas not yet been served. I. O. of G. T. - At a regular meeting of Ann Arbor Lodge, No. 320, 1. O. of G. 't., of Ann Arbor, held Aug. öth, the following officera were installed by .T. G. Peice, L. V. VV. C. T.- F. M. Chase. W. V. T.- Eliza Sessious. W. K. S - G. H. Francis. W. T.- N. Arksey. W. F. S.- Eudora Woodruff. P. W_ il T - .T Snm.riiB. W. C- O. Collier. W. M.- A. G. Gumaer. W. I. G.- Belle Kellogg. W. O. G.- P. D. Woodruff. W. A. S.- Kate Sipley. W. D. M.- Alma CornwelL E. H. S.- P. A. Noble. L. H. S. Lina Brown. The examination of the parties arrested for kilkng Martin Breitenbach in Lyndon, a report of which sad affair was given in the Aeous of last week, was concluded before Justice Tiiatchke, at Chelsea, on Thursday evening o{ last week, and resulted in holding the whole eight to answer to a charge of murder. They are now in jaü in this city. The attention of all parents and guardians resident of our city is invited to the copy of the " Compulsory School Law" published in another column. lts requirements are specific and stringent aud it is obligatory upon the school authorities to enforce it.