OBITUARY.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6153, 9 June 1885, Page 2

OBITUARY.

THE VENERABLE ARCHDEACON HAEEIS.

Yesterday morning a cable message ~ under the date of London, Jane 6th, as* . nounced the death of the Ten. W. Chambers -' Harris, M.A., Archdeacoa of Akaroa, Can- .■ terbury. So far aa we were able to ascertain: the V«n. Archdeacon Harris was a com* ■ paratively young man at the time of hie, death, his years numbering about five and , forty. He commenced hie education st Bradfield College, Berkshire, under the Sev. Mr Stephens. After leaving this . school he went as a scholar to Brasenoae College, Oxford, where he took hie BX «. degree, taking hie TULA, degree in 1867. While yet in England he mc appointed Head - Master to Christ's College Grammar School, in succession ' x -. to Mr Seginald Broughton, and entered , „ upon hie duties in the beginning of the year 1866, having arrived in Cbristchurch with hia wife towards the end « 1865. Mr Harris had been, in 1864, admitted to deacon's orders by Bishop Wiiberforce, of Oxford, and shortly after coming here he was ordained a priest bythe Bishop of Christohurch. Donng the time lie occupied the position of Head-Master the school rose considerably in public ,-. _j estimation. A chapel was built, and he r undertook the chapel work of the achco), in addition to his other duties. ,i He paid 1 close attention to the athletics of j the boys, as well as their soholastid work, 1 and though a very strict master, he was thoroughly just and impartial, ana highly respected by both hie popUe *tt4 ,„'.. their parents. Overwork, however, in- ' , jtired his brain and heart. In 1873 he sought and obtained twelve months' lesve-of-absence, and proceeded to England to recoup his failing strength. While m England he tendeted his resignation, and MrC. C. Corfe.who had been appointee - locum tenetu, was then made Headmaster a position which he fills at the present time. The rest that he had soon brought back health and strength to Mr Haras, who for a time was assistant to Cano» Cartels', Principal of the Theological \> College, LichfleH. His appointment a* Headmaster of tiie Wimborne Minster Grammar School, Dorsetshire, succeeded, ? i '< but this position he only held for a t&r years, until the end of 1877, when he »** appointed Vicar of Maichwood, near Southampton. An organising Chaplajn ' was needed for the diocese of Christclmrcß* and Mr Harris wae communicated WJ»« , He accepted the post, and returnedl Jo Canterbury about October or Septemberi 1879. He performed the duties of Chaplain, with those of Inspector of the Cirarcn of England Sunday Schools in * most thorough and satisfactory manner. Upon the decease of the late A«* . deacon Willock of Akaroa, he eaopeedea ,; to the Archdeaconry, and held taw post until hia deatii. In 1888 he »* '-*$ as a member of the General Synea* held at Napier, as one of «* representatives of this diocese, and wortea hard, particularly over the revision of w» Ewlesiaetical Iribunal Statutes. Hejje* came an effec tire and powerful e «®°)Kr , < sreaoher, until|»gaitt weakened by . . health, and towards the end of \ , his illnets, which hs*d been gMdßttjT 4 creeping onwards, became so senous as w debwJblm from taking part in the work* . .■ the Chnrch, ttedttSs of which t alwaye performed with the Wf&FKrSn irorTanT closest atteation. aiedaaltfß here failed to discorer toe natnre of JM , r dfeease which was rapidly -$'■ the reverend genaeman's constatetwe, sw - in March last he proceeded to Eaglwewf

seek * care in the Old Country. His state w*e seen when he lefc that his friends had little hope of his recovery, but.though partly prepared for the bad news which has irrived, they scarcely expected his death vpald be so sudden. That it has been. /■.-jAjh;' is proved by the fact that one of v "«ons, who attends Christ , s College, did not know, of his father's decease, until reaching school yesterday morning. The Yea. Archdeacon was accompanied Home by his wife) who ie ester to the late Captsda' Sanders) and Ids eldest son. His death -v£a be severely felt by the Church for which he so zealously worked, and by hia -widow and family, three of whom are "boys and one. a girl. His friends here have liot yet received any particulars relating to his death.