THE LATE BISHOP SELWYN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 7

THE LATE BISHOP SELWYN.

Sir,—lour very interesting referonccs to tlio late bishop in to-day's issuo of your paper has more than ordinary interest for me, for Monday, the sth, is also tho centenary of my mothor's birth, who outlived tho great bishop by over twenty years. My object in writing is to refer 'to an incident which I witnessed. It was, I think, in 1862, I was in command of a military guard in Brougham Street, New Plymouth, just opposite Mr. Gilmoro's shop. Our colonel (the late General Sir H. J. Warre, K.C.8.), came to mo and said, "When Bishop Selwyn comes up turn out the guard. You will seo him with Arohdeacon Govctt." The guard was duly turned out, and the bishop crossed over to us, and returned tho salute, and after a few pleasing remarks, requested mo to dismiss tho guard._ Tho bishop then recrosscd to tho opposite side of the street, just when a settler named Oliver was coming down tho street, but instead of passing tho bishop on tho footpath, ho swerved into tho road, eyeing tho bishop, and groaning in a most disgusting manner. The bishop stopped and gazed at Oliver, who also stopped and continued his groaning. Soon others joined, some of whom followed tho example sot by Oliver. Thinking that men who could so far forget thomselves might not scruple to lay violent hands on the bishop, I called "Fall in the guard." This had the effect I anticipated. Several accused tho bishop of greatly favouring the Maoris. Tho bishop very patiently stood thero, and when they had finished he very coolly asked if anyone else had anything to say; "if not," ho said, "I should like to say a few words." Then ho began, and that powerful voico of his could be heard for some distance round that locality. He treated them to something ' they thought he never knew. One sentence I well remember. Ho said: "I did not hear one of you make any reference to the people who went out from this town and drove in cattle belonging to the Maoris and settlers, and making fortunes thereby." Meat was very dear at that time, nearly a shilling n pound. There was no hooting as tho good bishop walked up the street.. Tho fact was they had got hold of something to make them do a little thinking over the price they had to pay for moat that cost tho butchers so little. Even Mr. Oliver loft a wiser man.—l am, etc., April 3. E.B.