PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 28, 2 February 1904, Page 5

PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND.

BISHOP XEVILL CHOSEN. The important feature of last nighfs sitting of the S\ nod of the Anglican Church of New Zealand wad the appointment of a Primate. According to the Church canons, if no bishop obtained a clear majority of bishops, clergy., and laity after three ballots, the senior bishop became Primate, and this happened upon the present occasion, when the honour fell to Bishop Nevill, of Bunedin, the senior bishop of the Province of New Zealand. All the clergy were present at the sitting, unci only three lay delegates were absent, while'the space reserved for the general public was crowded. Archdeacon Averill was appointed scrutineer on behalf of the South Island, and Mr. Churton for the North. Upon the first ballot the scrutineers reported that there had been no election. The Bishop Nelson then moved that the names of the bishops and the votes recorded be read. He nuoted a precedent for this in the course adopted at the election of Bishop Hadfield ac Primate in 1889.

M. Kenneth Wilson seconded,, but the Rev. R. Coffee and Mr. T. Tanner protested against what they regarded as an undignified innovation, the latter adding that it was a violation of the secrecy of the ballot.

Canon Mac Murray thought it would be a matter for grave regret if the election went by default, and soiggested that there should be a motion for the retirement of the clergy for consultation.

Dean Fitehett considered that tae object of the process laid down in the canons was to obtain the minds of the Church,, and if the merits of the Bishops ■were so evenly balanced that there was no bishop on the bench having a majority in each order, then it was evident that the senior Bishop was the person upon which all could agree. The motion was lost; on a division, the voting being: Bishops, ayes 6, noes nil; clergy, ayes 4 noes 15: laity, ayes 1, noes 15.

The Synod proceeded to a eeteond ballot, and then to a third, according to the canons, as no majority of all the orders was obtained. The final ballot being , again without result Bishop Nevill, of Dunedin, the senior Bishop, was therefore Primate of the Province of New Zealand.

General applause greeted the result of the third ballot. Amid this Bishop Nevill rose, and, speaking with emotion, said, "I think I may without immodesty receive the plaudits offered as greetings to myself in having been, as I believe, in the providence of God. called to the difficult and honourable position which I occupy here to-night. I have only this one word to say, dear brethren,. I came to this country some 34 years ago, believing myself to be called of God to do some work for His Holy Church in this land. 1 havp endeavoured, amid many weaknesses, to discharge the obligations which were about that time laid upon mc. I know that I have not spared myself, I know 1 have received the affection of my clergy and lay members of mv diocese, and that I have the satisfaction of knowing that a large number of people outside that area regard mc with affeclion and esLeeem. (Applause.) I only desire to ask you that in the difficult position which 1 am now called upon to occupy, T may receive your prayers from time to time, that any efforts I may still be enabled to make with the same earnest purpose in my heart, may be effectual to the glory of God and the welfare of His people." (Loud applause.)

The Synod then proceeded with the agenda.