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Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 13

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BISHOP AND MRS WESTWATSON. GATHERING AT RADIANT HALL. The Radiant Hall was filled last night •with members of the Church ° England in Christchurch who gathered to welcome their Bishop and. Mrs WestWatson back from their* trip to England and the Lambeth Conference. Dean J. A. Julius presided,, and together with the Bishop and Mrs .WestWatson on the platform were Archdeacons P. B. Haggitt and F. -N. Taylor," the Chancellor of the Diocese (Mr H. D. Andrews), aad representative clergy and laity. As proceedings opened Mrs F. E. Kawle stepped across the platform to present Mrs West-Wat-son with a bouquet. The Dean said that, in spite of all the facility of communication of to-day, it was impossible for us to keep in touch with the great minds of the Old World without going in amongst them. This the Bishop had done, and he was sure that lie had brought something of value back to the diocese. They were also pleased to welcome Bishop and Mrs West-Watson as friends.

Worthy Substitutes. Mr Andrews also bade them welcome. He paid a tribute to the work done by the Vicar-General (Dean Julius) and the Archbishop during the Bishop's absence. He would advise both the Bishop and Mrs West-Watson not to impair their strength by overburdening themselves with duties of their office. Mrs W. G. TSoberts, Dominion secretary of the Mothers' Union, directed her welcome particularly to Mrs WestWatson, whom, she said, they had all missed from their meetings. "I should like to thank you very much for the welcome you are giving us," said Mrs West-Watson in reply. "While in England we Bishops' wives had a good many things to do to keep us out of mischief. '* While we were,not admitted to the Conference itself, we had delightful times at the many receptions"; I 'irf afraid we were rather spoiled. Then, there was the world conference of the Mothers' Union and of the Council of Women Church Workers! _ "When I was in England-—and since I came back—l have been asked which I liked best, England or New Zealand. That is an invidious it is like having two friends and being asked which you love best. We love them both, but are very glad to be back again." "I don't think- any other- Bishop could have gone to the Lambeth: Conference with such an easy mind as I," remarked his Lordship, ** thanks to Dean Julius, Archbishop Julius, the Archdeacons, members of the Cathedral . Chapter, and standing committees." 4 Faith in Australia. The Bishop described his visit abroad as a wonderful experience. Australia he and his wife visited for the first time. There they found a lot more Government' than we in New Zealand had, but he was sure that that country would win through to a great future. He wished that New Zealand could be linked more [ closely with the Commonwealth. He had read" that the Australian had the conj tinental mind and the New Zealander I the insular mind, but this should not be sufficient to keep them apart. Graves. Tended by a Prince. Establishing personal links with New Zealand* almost everywhere, the Bishop and Mrs West-Watson passed on to Colombo, and thence to Palestine. There they visited the war graves, where many New Zealanders were buried. The graves were tended by a Russian prince, formerly of the Imperial Guard, who was doing his best for a small colony I of Russians there. ■ There was also a great international hospital founded by the Order of St. John. It had 80,000 patients and beds - endowed by many different countries, but : they could not find one endowed by New Zealand. To do this would cost £IOOO, but he hoped that one day it might be considered. t They travelled on to Egypt, where they were impressed with the work being done for the country by British officials. Then they went to Malta, to Marseilles, and thence to England, reaching Home on a dreary day which - was" saddened by the thought that Archbishop Davidson,, who tad formerly been chairman of their conference, was being bnried; Then ensued a very busy time attending conferences and recep--tions, seeing. friends and relatives, be- . sides attending to the business of the diocese. • • _ .