The New Bishop

NZ Truth, Issue 1187, 30 August 1928, Page 6

The New Bishop

AND so Rev. Fred Bennett, of Hastings, is to wear mitre anci, stole as the first of, his line — Bishop of Aotea-o-roa!. The selectors must/be feeling rather bucked over their job, for they have been inundated with ' bouquets of approval. ■ ■' . Bishop' Bennett is one of the bestknown and best-liked parsons m New Zealand — pakeha or Maori. Pretty sweeping sort of a statement, isn't it? But there it stands. • His twelve years' stay at Rotorua brought him into contact with visitors from all over the Dominion and overseas. •''■».'■• ■ I You simply hadn't "done". Rotorua unless you had heard Rev. Fred Bennett preach and the choir, he trained chant and intone m haunting harmony. And he was worth hearing, too, no matter what your creed or lack of one. Like the late Sir James Carroll and Sir Apirana Ngata, the new Bishop: inherits the racial gifts of fine imagery, polished periods and sonorous, melli-fluous-delivery. ( ' With .his gifts of leadership, he might have attained Cabinet rank like his friend, Ngata, had he chose. But perhaps he has chosen the. better part. Certainly his selectors have done afar, far better thing than 'they have ever done before. .