NEW ZEALAND BISHOPRIC.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 506, 2 July 1866, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND BISHOPRIC.

(From the Times' Parliamentary Heport.) Mr Selwyn asked the Secretary of State for the colonies whether the Bishoric of Nelson, -New Zealand, had not continued vacant for many months in consequence of the refusal of her Majesty's Government to assent to the consecration of a successor, although such successor had been nominated by the Bishop of London, at the request and with the subsequent approval of the synod of the diocess, and whether such assent hae dot been requested by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the bishops and other members of the Church in New Zealand, without asking for any patent, or for the grant of any temporal dignity or coercive authority. He also wished to ask whether the assent of the Crown had not been given in a similar case In reference to Rupert's Land. Mr Cardwell replied that it was quite true the succession to the Bishopric of Nelson had remained vacant for some time in consequence of the inability of the Crown to give a sanction to the appointment of a successor in the usual way ; that inability having been occasioned by the difficulties which had arisenin law in consequence of the decision 'of the Privy Council in the case of Natal. The bishops of New Zealand presented a memorial to the Crown, praying that they might be permitted to fill up vacancies in their own body by their own inherent right, and without letters patent. The memorial from the bishops wa3 accompanied by a minute from the ministerr objecting to any arrangement by which any quasi jurisdiction of the bishops in New Zealand should receive any authorith from the Crown. Under these circumstances, and considering the difficulty with which the matter was beset since the decision of the Privy Council, it had been the opinion of Her Majesty's advisers that a Bill on the subject should be psepared and submitted to Parliament, as they were desirous to have the opinion of parliament before any further action was taken. With regard to Rupert's Land, the bishop there was waiting for consecration at the time when the decision of the Privy Council was given • and therefore, to obviate any inconvenience in that case, letters patent were granted for the consecration of the bishop. Mr Selwyn inquired when the Bill to which the right hon. gentleman referred would be introduced. Mr Cardwell said he would take the first opportunity of giving notice on the subject.