RECEPTION OF DR. NILIGAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 118, 20 May 1903, Page 2

RECEPTION OF DR. NILIGAN.

A OOR' lA', WKU.OHK. i A hastily convened gathering of laymen connected with St. Miry's Church took place at the residencs of the Venerable Archdeacon G >vett yesterday morning, to informally welcome Dr. Neligan to his new diocese and to

the archdeaconry of Taranaki, , The Rev. F. G. Evans, Vicar of the Parish, said they felt they could not let the occasion of Dr. Neligan pasnng through New Plymouth pass without congratulating him on his safe arrival, and expending to him a loving and very nearly welcome to the colony, and, more especially, to Taranaki, which was part of the district of which he was to be the spiritual head. They desired also to rxpress their great thankfulneis to that he had been brought safely through all the dangers of the long journey from Home, and had arrived amongst them in such health and strength. They hoped D . Neligan, with Mrs Neligan, wmldlong be spired to the p: oplo he had come to minister amongst. Mr McKellir, on behalf of the parishioners, elso said a few wo'ds expressive of the hearty goodwill of the paople towards Dr,.Neligar, and the hope that the wou'd soon have the opportunity of-meeting Dr. Ne'.igan and Mis Neligan in larger J cumbers, and tint they would b8 frequent vi'itors to New Plymouth, j Mr Stanley Smith presented Dr. i Nfcl'gan with a copy of the annual report of the parish, and eaid this would give Dr. Nelgan a better in ight in"o the work of the church here than anything he could say. He joined with Mr McKellar in giving Di\ Neligan, as their new Bishop, a hearty welcome. D\ Neligan said it w s bo'h a privilege aud a ple-su e to mejt such a

stalwart body of hymen, In his wort at Homo ho had always felt that 'o 'hi splendid body of hyin'n with whom hi had been suivoiin led had du much of whitover succew hi had me wioh. He f«it deeply grateful on 'hui first pu ting his foot ou, whi h he migh call his owu diocape, *o be met in sucl a kind and cordial manner, They hat met wi h much kindness ia Willing ten, and again in Nelson, but there wai a warmth about this reception and wel come to Mrs Ne-ligan an i himself tha he felt dweply, and which th y heartil; appreciated. He prayed Almighty Gb< that his cim'ng hare would be grod fo; all of them ; that in his wo k he shou'c help and no!; hurt thi church in thi great Province <i New Zealani am this Diocese of Aucklandr He prayet that he would be able to do go id t< thoße wlnm he hop:d he could cill hi brother clergymen, and asshb the hit] in upholding the hands of those minis tering amongst thorn f>r thi good o this colony, ever remernbirirgthat it i righteousness which ezdbe'h a nation He hopod he might be ablo to do hi share in helping them in their desin to advance the interest of thu colony and plaoa it iu that high poai'ioi Hinongst the nations of theeirth whiol it was d sfcioed to hold, He asked th> n for their prayer?, and hrpad, when thi aocsecra'ion servio was b ing h Id u Auckland on Thursday, they would j )ii their prayers with their Aujkhnt friends that he might receive God' help and blessing. Tho R v, F. H. Ban-ott aiiJ, 01 b half of tha Maori poopli of thi diooesis, he wiu'd likea'si to extsnd i hearty walcim> to their new Bishop, whoso earning had loig boen anxiousij looked for, They ware united witl their Pakeha brethren in hoping tha' Dr. Neligan would long be spired t< them and he'p forward the great worl of striving to up'ifc (he native race On behalf of his re-ple he would say Welcome! Welcome ! Thrice welcome 0 thou great r«ta tering care we, as a wee, hope to fnc refuge. Dr. Neligan Slid he couli harilj express bis appreciation of thi cordia: and characteristic, welcome Mr Benn;-ti Ind given him on beha't of tha great Maori race. He ciull only say tint h< tud ome t:> New Zsalaod wi f ,rt a grail feeling of intyrcst regarding the Maon'f who already held a very warm cornei in his hari and he had a great des're to be helpful to thena, Bafore leaving Home he had callad to see Mrs Selwyo ind this diiar old lidy of n°a ly 95 yeirsof age bad put the quasti n tc

him, " what aro you going to do wi h the Maoris." He felt that this was a momeutuous question and prayed that, he might be imbued with the epirib of the gre»t George Augustus Sdwyn, s) ■ h\t he might do bis duty amongst 'hat portion of the psople of his diocese. After a short time spent in conversation the gathering dispersed. B-fore separating Dr. Neligan said it was to him a very touching privilege to be received in the hou-e of the V:n. Archdeacon Govett, with wlrse life and work church people .everywhere were familiar. He was very glad the Archdeacon had been spared so long as he felt it a spscial privilege to meet him.

Dr Neligan is a man of medium hpight and bui'd, fresh comphxioned, bright eyed, clean shaven, genial, and devoid of affectation. He is emimn'ly pracioal, and seems filled with an earnest and whole souled en'husiism regarding the work before him.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE. A large congregation assembled at Sb. Mary's last evening, when a thanksgiving service was held, The hymns, '. psalm?, and lesson w. re specially selected, and the anthem " How bem- , 'tiful a e the feet of him that bringekh .tidings of peace" was nuog. The . prayers were said by the Rev. F. G.' Evans, and the lesson read by the Riv.' ,' A. IT. Smith. The senior J3 shop of the ,'colony, Bislop Neville, of Dunedlf,' . then gave an exceedingly eloquent and j i appropriate address, after which he said ! !a special prayer of thankfulness to' A'inighty God for his goodness in ' bringing Dr. Naligm S'.f. ly to h ; s pco jle. Bishop Neville then pronounced , the Benediction. I A spec ! al service will be hold in St. Mary's on Thursday morning it 11 a.m., |at the sime time as tho consecration j eei vioe is taking placs in Auckland, and Bishop Neville asked St. Mary'd congregation for theit' praye s cu that | occasion. ' Dr. Neligan and party proceeded to Auckland last nighh by the R)toiti.