THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 5

THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.

\ , , - ..... BISHOP AVERILL'S VISIT TO GIS- ".; BORNE. AN ADDEESS OF WELCOME. ' The Bishop of Waiapu (Dr, Averill) returned to Napier yesterday morning from a. visit to Gisborne, where he had been ~ spending a few days. On Sunday afternoon Inst he opened a largo church hall at Kaiti, ' a suburb of Gisborne, This is the second-church hall opened in the parish within twelve months—the Inst one being at. Mangapapa, which Bishop opened on his last visit. The new brick church, in Gisborne, the foundation stone of which was laid by his Excellency 'the Governor in February ; be completed by ..the. New' Year, and is an imposing structure. - , On Wednesday last the Bishop opened a large Oriental carnival' in the Garrison Hall, the proceeds being in aid of. the building fund of the new church. Before the opening ho received a civic welcome from the Mayor, supported by representatives of the various public bodies of the borough and county. The Mayor, on behalf of the Church-people of Gisborne, presented to the Bishop and Mrs. Averill ,an illuminated, framed, address of welw; como upon their safe return to the dio""cese; It reads as follows:— r'j, ..;■''. , "We desire to welcome' you and Mrs. '. Averiil'on your return from England, and - -"< sto express'our thankfulness that you .have :been' able, successfully and with plcasuro •to'yourselves, to carry out the objects -which you had in view. Thomctivity and ■ freedom of. the times in which we live, ithe rapid evolution of thought resulting ■from acute scientific precision and mod'cm discovery, and the changes in the -"habits: of life of oil modern peoples will not-havo escaped your observation. These changing conditions t demand' from Ohurcli Governments and Senates sympathetic treatment and wise guidance, which we aro Buro they will receive from yourself as our Bishop.' The members of the' Ohurch -at Gisborne look with confidence to the future .under your leadership, and aro glad to avail themselves of this opportunity to assure you that all your efforts to extend the work of the Ohurch, co-ordinate with, the closer settlement of a. new country, and to adapt its ministrations to the necessities and spiritual advancement of its settlers will have their heaj-tiest co-opera-tion and practical assistance While we thus vonture to encourage yoii as our Bishop in the strenuous work lying before you, In overseeing so great a diocese and in ministering to two races, wo also very earnestly desire and pray that, are caring for others, Mrs. Averill, your family, and yourself may bo ehcJJ/ered from all ill. and be accompanied by every blessing. Commending you to God, our Father, and desiring for you peace which pa-sscth all understanding—We, are, ryour Lordship's . devoted servants '■'. and, friends. (Signed on behalf of the clergy, church, officers, and laity of the north-eastern portion of the Diocese of Waiapu, the 2nd day of October, 1912.) . ■ ■ ■ L. Dawson. Thomas (Vicar). George Winter. Thomas Jex-Blake (Ohurch.".'wardens);, J. W. Williams, E. G. Mati thews, J. E., Nicholls,' J. 0. Field; V. Barker, A. L. Muir, 0. A. de Latour, H. J. Claton,'M. P. Pasco, 0; E.. Armstrong, 0. V. -Davios. ... The Native Girls' School at Napier / (Hukarerc), whicli has taken the place of '" tho one destroyed by fire, is now. practically completed, and will be formally opened by the Bishop during Synod time. The diocese of Waiapu has recently lost by. .death ■. two : Maori clergy, who have ■ ministered' in adjacent parishes' on tho East Coast, viz., the Eevs. Pa'ra'one Turei and Nikora' Tautau. The latter was quite Tcoently thrown from'his horse, and died shortly afterwards.