ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1915, Page 4

ANGLICAN CHURCH.

DEMANDS OP BLACK-BLOCKS. ARCHDEACONS FOR THE FRONT. TARANAKI DIOCESE QUESTION.

Among the passengers to New Plymouth by the mail train last night was Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, who will spend about a week here. Dr. Averill is accompanied by Mrs* Avcrill, and during their stay they will be the guests of Archdeacon and Mrs. F. <i. Evans. The main object of the ■Bishop's visit to New Plymouth is to perforin the consecration service of the tJovett memorial, at St. Mary's Church on Sunday, but his Lordship is combining business with pleasure, and the only public function he will attend is that of Sunday. During his stay Bishop Averill hopes to visit Mt. Egmont. A Daily News representative had an interesting conversation with Dr. Averill last night. The Bishop has come from Auckland via the Wanganui River, and he is generous in his praise of the scenery on the river. "Wo hear scenic places praised so much that one is inclined to expect disappointment," he said, ''but I was not disappointed with the trip from Pipiriki to the Houseboat. I was told a lot about the Rhine before I visited it, and I was disappointed with it, out I was not disappointed with the Wanganui. 1 have seen a good deal of New Zealand scenery, but I must say that New Zealand has a decided asßet in the Wanganui River." Dr. Averill said' that he had proposed to visit the Ohura district, en route to New but bad weather prevented this being done, and he was very disappointed. Speaking of-church work in the back-blocks, Bishop Avcrill said that, considering tho difficulties which had to be met, especially in regard to weather, the church workers in those districts were a noble lot. "We don't expect them to build churches,' he said, "for they are quite content to hold their services anywhere. It is not churches we want, it is men. We can always find places for churches, but we want men to do the work. I think we could do with more men for church work in the black-blocks. One of our most pressing needs is suitable men, and I say suitable designedly." Dr. Averill mentioned that many of his clergy had gone away as chaplains to the front, and their absence created a difficulty. He said three-quarters of his clergy would'go to the front if they had the opportunity, and he stated that every Archdeacon in his diocese had offered his services to the Defence Department. The Auckland diocese, had been called upon to provide as many chaplains as all the other dioceses put to together, and this had complicated matters. Referring to the suggested Taranaki Diocese, Dr. Averill said that this question would come before the General Synod at its sitting next May. He did not think the Synod would decide upon a Taranaki Diocese, but-an alteration in boundaries would probably bo made. He thought people would realise that the present was not an appropriate time to go into the question of n new diocese. It had to be remembered, however, that the opening of the Stratford Main Trunk Railway would bring up the question of new boundaries, hut he . thought it was much better to go on as at present until they were* better able to grasp the boundaries question. If Taranaki was to relieve Auckland It • would have to take in all the area *milli of Hamilton. "At the same time, I ilo not want it to be u»der«tfi<id ih;it Taranaki is a burden to me. for I would, be sorry to lose the province from ; diocese," added tho Bishop.