The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 433, 27 December 1856, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, December 27t7i. The installation of the Bishop of Christchurch, which took place at Christchurch on Christmas Day, was an event of deep importance to Ibis province ; —an event SO long hoped for in vain that some of our fellow colonists had almost forgotten the aims and aspirations with which the founders of this settlement were inspired. It would be needless now to allude to the circumstances of our first disappointment. It was intended that the Church in this settlement should be superintended from the first by a Bishop who should be able to devote his time entirely to^ such a diocese as has been now formed. " But, after the first mistake, one cause for delay after another has supervened. In the meantime we have been fortunate enough to form a more

intimate acquaintance than we should otherwise have done with the Bishop of New Zealand, who has found time in the midst of his arduous labours in the Northern is r land of New Zealand andamong the islands of the Pacific to visit from time to time this portion of his too extensive diocese. Thus a great gain has arisen out of an apparent misfortune. Aud it ia vritfc deep regret that we understand that Bishop Selwyn has no longer any pastoral connection with this diocese. The Bishop of Sydney is our Metropolitan. This is "a condition of the .t^rmation of our new diocese which the churchmen of this Province were not prepared to expect. It would appear natural that the Bishop of New Zealand should be our metropolitan; and Bishop Selwyn is so identified personally with the whole colony, that we can scarcely understand his total disconnection from a New Zealand diocese. We observe that His Lordship is prepared to recommend the formation of two new dioceses at Wellington and Nelson. If this project is carried into effect, we cannot but hope that the different bishops of New Zealand will be made suffragans of the Bishop of New Zealand. Unless this is the case all hopes of a New Zealand convocation will be frustrated.

To the advice and influence of Bishop

Selwyn as well, as to the unwearied exertions of the quondam members of the Canter bury Association in England, we owe at last the consecration of a Bishop of Christ church. His Lordship enters upon his new duties under the best auspices. After a prosperous voyage he finds the Bishop of -New Zealand waiting to introduce him (if we may so speak) to his flock; and the large congregation of churchmen which attended at his installation, the second day after his landing, must have been a gratifying welcome. We sincerely hope that the supervision of our Bishop will give unanimity and decision to the actions of the church in this Province, and thai thus the scheme of this Canterbury Settlement may be fully carried out.

We may perhaps be allowed to congratulate Bishop Selwyn upon his presence on so happy an occasion as the installation of a Bishop recommended by himself to share the labor of the vast diocese which he has hitherto superintended, and to hope that his Lordship may in the course of his great: work meet with many such cheering and encouraging proofs that his labour is not in vain.