Archdeacon Harper.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1922, Page 4

Archdeacon Harper.

COMM EM OR ATKIN SER VICE

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 30,

At the service at the Anglican Cathedral at 11 a.m. yesterday com-, iqemoration was made of the life of tlie late Veil Archdeacon Henry William Harper, who died in Rondon on January 22. The preacher was Bishop Julius, and in the course of his sermon he made feeling reference to the valuable fl’prk done by Archdeacon Harper for the Church jn New Zeajand in theenrlv days. After referring to tlie early cayepr of the late archdeacon,, Bii/iipp Julius said that lie was a man, of strong personality and rich culture.. ! From his early days lie was of a devout : I term of lnjiicl and lip had taken a deep Interest ip many branches of learning. Put beyond all this tlie late \yas a map and he |(ad proved this by the way lie had faced flic difficulties afid hijrdships qf early Colonial life. When Archdeacon Harper went to the West Coast jn 1860 as Archdeacon of \Vqstland, Hojcitika bad a pqpplation of 10,000. There was a multitude of hote|s in tlip place and pinch drinking ap,d gambling V er) t 0,1 •T! m ‘ghi 1)0 thought the gifts which Archdeacon Harper posspssed were wasted by putting hinTin snob surroundings, but speakep considered that it was on tlie West Coast that the late Archdeacon had done his best work. Archdeacon Harper had a deep sympathy with Lire miners. He recognised their ipa rib ness, ppd because of that ho could under- ( stand their ways and jives. lie won the love and respect of the miners and these feelings existed to-day amongst those of the old diggers who were still alive. Although he considered

that Archdeacon Harper did his best work qn the Coast lie fully recognised thp value of his work in I'imaru. After many years of lahopr in New Zealand 4rehcjeacpii Harper returned to England and there spent a few quiet years

of rest. Although there were many good moil serving the Church, there were not many like Archdeacon Harper. In fact the number of his type was lamentably small.