Death of Bishop Williams.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2807, 12 February 1878, Page 2

Death of Bishop Williams.

Intelligence of the death of Bishop Williams has reached us from Napier, at the green old age of seventy-seven. The rcnerable bishop, late.of Waiapu, was born in the first year of the present century in the radical town of Nottingham, England, and by the daisy-skirted Trent; where Kirke White sported when a boy, William Williams passed his earliest years. William Williams was at first intended for the medical profession, and eut9ied Magdalen College, Oxford, where he took his degree of Master of Arts. He took Orders, and subsequently followed his brother, the late Arch* deacon Williams, to New Zealand. He came to this country in 1826, under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society. Key. Mr Williams lired and laboured in several parts of New Zealand, and while at Paihia he turned his close attention to philology, with the view of reducing the Maori language to gram* matical form, so as to make a Maori translation of the Bible possible and intelligent to the nati?e mind; and.^ia this work he led the way to other work by Archdeacon Maunsell and others. The re*, gentleman afterwards laboured at the Thames, and in the school at Waimate, where he experimented and lectured in the most practical manner. On being reliered by Bey. Eichard Taylor, Mr Williams removed to a station at Poverty Bay, and took charge of the East Coast. Soon after the arrival of Bishop Selwyn Mr Williams and his brother were made Archdeacons, and shortly after a' dispute arose, which necessitated the Archdeacon's return to England to vindicate the mission, which he did to general satisfaction. While in England he carried through the press a Maori translation of the New Testament and Common Prayer Book. He also received the degree of D.C.L. in recognition of his literary and other services and learning. His " Christianity among the New Zealanders," is still a popular book. When the Diocese of New Zealand was divided, Archdeacon Wm. Williams was appointed at the suggestion of Bishop Selwyn, to the diocese of Waiapu, and consecrated its bishop, where he laboured with much success, and gathered around him a number of theological students. At the period of the outbreak of the Waitara war, the Bishop's house and premises were sacked, and his welKfjiriushed library destroyed. He again lired at Paihia, and subsequently at Napier, where he finished his course. Some lime previous,to his death, Bishop Williams was compelled to resign his position as Bishop of Waiapu, and the. seat was vacant until the consecration of the Her Mr Stuart to the diocese, which was a source of consolation to the deceased. Bishop Williams, full of years and honor*, after a life of hard missionary work, passed quietly to his rest. He leaves a widow and several sons and daughters behind him.—Auckland Star.