LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2032, 18 March 1907, Page 4

LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS

AN INTERESTING CAREER. In the course of its remarks regarding the Into Venerable Archdeacon Smmiol Williams, tho llawko’s Bay Herald states that his father was formerly a lieutenant in the Navy and was sent out by the Church Missionary Society, in 1822, founding tho mission at Pailiia, on tho south side of tho Bay of Islands, in 1523. Tho missionary’s wifo and throe infant children, of whom tho deceased was the youngest, accompanied him, making tho voyage to Australia in the female convict ship Lord Sidmoutli, and from Sydney in the ship Brampton, which was wrecked in Ivororareka Bay as sho started on her return voyage. The veteran missionary, the Rev. S. Marsden, came with him and selected the site for tho now station. At that time tho white settlement consisted of seven missionaries and two-sottlors . with their wives, and there were many trials and dangers to he encountered. Among these surroundings, a picturesque glimpse of which is affordod in tho “Voyage of the Beagle,’’ -~r Williams’ early days were passed, and his life has covered practically the whole history of the colony. He could remember the arrival of tho first British Resident; Mr Bushy, at tho Bay of Islands in 1833, the arrival of Mr Colenso with the first printing press in 1831, the arival of Charles Darwin in tho Beagle in r 035, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 3540, tho appointment of tho first British Governor, Lieut. Hobson, in 1841, and tho arrival of Bishop Sohvyn in 1842. Mr Williams received his education at St. John’s College, which had been founded by his father at Waimate. Ho was subsequently connected with tho college as teacher of the Maori school, and when Bishop Solwyn transferred the collego to Auckland in 1845, ho romovod to that city. Shortly after Mr. Williams took charge of Hawke’s Bay, Sir George Grey left Now Zealand, and his successor was not so interested in Mr. Williams’ work. For a time Mr. Williams had to shut up the school and lease the land, and ho records that tho best offer lie could get was tho munificent sum of .£4 2s fid per annum for the 4000 acres. Tho lessee found oven that rent too high, and the land was unoccupied for sevoral years. Finally Mr Williams finding that the endowment was not producing any income, spent some of his money on it, and, by borrowing other funds, succeeded in fencing it and carrying out certain improvements with a view of securing ail income from it in order to start tho school once more. After a time the trustees who had been appointed decided to lease the estate, and Mr Williams became and had since remained tho tenant. In 1572 the school was rc-opencd. How much good work has been done there in the last 30 years every resident of Hawke’s Bay knows. It is not everyone who knows how many difficulties had to be overcome in starting it. Mr Williams naturally acquired a great influence over the Maoris, and it was partly owing to bis advice that Sir Donald McLean was able to induce the natives to sell their spare lands to. the Government. His influence was also strong to protect tho settlors from the natives and to prevent much bloodshed. On one occasion lie rode into Napier to warn the authorities that plans were being made for an attack on tho town, and insisted on the forces being turned out at once, which probably saved tlie Europeans settlement from destruction. It was largely due to tlie work of the Archdeacon that the natives wore kept from fighting among themselves and on good terms with the Europeans. It was for that purpose indeed that he was invited to' the Hawke’s Bay district by Sir George Grey, who distinctly stated that it was not for educational purposes that he was required, and that he would not give an acre for schools if Mr Williams would not come.

Mr Williams developed at Te Ante a special faculty for farming. At tho date of his arrival the whole province was covered either with forest, manuka scrub, or fern. There wore neither roads nor bridges and very littlo grass country on which to keep stock. Mr Williams has the credit of teaching the settlors how to break in the fern country, which proved almost a harder task than felling the forest. Under his management, Te Auto has become well known throughout the colony. Ho was associated with tlie Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society from its inauguration, and was already a noted breeder of cattle in 1863, when he took most of tlie prizes in that class at tho first of tho society’s shows. The Ven. Archdeacon Williams' connection with the Church of England in the diocese goes back beyond tlie memory of most living. He was ordained a priest in 1853, acted as rural dean of Hawke’s Bay from 1851 to 1888, under all three bishops of- Waiapn, and was appointed Archdeacon in 1888 and Canon of tho now Cathedral in 1889. Ho was a man of a large heart, who never tired of giving of his abundance to those less fortunate than he, and many a cause and many an individual owe much to his generous aid. Ho-was enthusiastic in his devotion to missonary work, and contributed largely to missions not only in New Zealand, but in all parts of the world. The Church found in him an ever ready helper, and there was no scheme for its advancement which did not benefit largely by his liberality. He was also especially interested in work among the Maoris, and, in addition to his large gifts to Te Auto and Hukarore schools, ho maintained district nurses in more than one nativo settlement. There are few men whose death will make such a loss to tho community.