ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8729, 27 February 1894, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

__»_ [KROM OCR SrECIAX. CORKB_roNI)BNT.] LONDON, January 12. Ou Tueaday last the sad news was re ceivod of the death of Bishop Hill, of the Niger, and of his wife. The intelligence camo by cable from Lagos to tho Church Missionary House in London, but no detailt were given, and at present nobody knows whether Bishop and Mrs Hill both fell victims to the unhealthy climato of VVostori Africa and wore carried off by fever, oi whether they met with any fatal accident. There ia a vague rumour that they met then death by driving while endeavouring to crosa a river, but I cannot trace any definite foundation for thia story. . The news will causo much regret in New Zealand, and above all in Auckland, where the deceased Bishop, as the Rev. J. S. Hill, was for some time resident, and where ho was well known and greatly beloved. He camo to England iv 1890, after twelve years' mission work in New Zealand, aud devoted himself to parochial mission duty uudor the Rev. W. H. Aitken, but his zeal for labour among the heathen soon took possession of him once more, and he offered hia services to the Church Missionary Society as a missionary to the Niger. Mr Aitken, however suggested him privately to tho Society as an admirable successor to the late Bishop Crowthcr, aud the nomination was offered to him.

Mr Hill was at first reluctant to accept the nomination. Indeed, he declined it positively wtu-n offered, bub by the advice of trusted friends ho reconsidered the matter, and ultimately he accepted the position. Tho ArcliDishop of Canterbury accordingly appointed him, and he was consecrated iv St. Paul's Cathedral on the 29th Juue lost, leaving for hia African diocese shortly afterwards, accompanied by his devoted wife. The untimely death of thia noble and earnest pair is felb to be a severe blow* and loss to the Niger Mission. Much was hoped for from their peculiarly high, aud, if I may use tho term, saintly character, and from their remarkable zeal and energy. The long vacant see of Melanesia is about to bo filled up at last. The Archbishop of Canterbury, acting with Bishop Selwyn, the ex-Bishop of Melanesia, and tho Rev. Dr. Codriugton, who ao long labourod there as a missionary, has offered the positiou to the Rev. Cecil Wilson, Vicar of Moordown, Bournemouth, by whom ib has been accepted, and it is stated that the consecration will take place in New Zealand on the libit June next, St. Barnabas' Day. It is remarked that "tho Bishop's stipend is a small and precarious fund provided by the Melanesian Mission."

As the new Bishop will be a member of your New Zealand General Synod and will often be seen in your midst, some particulars about him will doubtless be interesting. He is quite a young man, full of life and energy, and verj- popular everywhere. He is eminently a " muscular chriatian," being a disbinguished athlete and a first rate cricketer. He ia, in facb, one of England's most celebrated amateur cricketers, being the "Mr Wilson" of the Kent county eleven. Thus, apart from hia pleaaanb Bournemouth vicarage, he gives up much in going out bo Melanesia, aa did his predecessor, Bishop John Selwyn. The Ophir, which sails to-day, takes tho following New Zealand passengers :—Rev. A. W. and Mrs Averill, Mr and Mra Darling, Mr and Mrs Manley, Mr and Mrs Powell, Mrs Bigsworbh, Mrs Young, Miaa Evans, Messrs Beattie, Conroy, Gibson, Hall, Heath, Hockey, Lambert, Mansfield, Rylands, Stephens and Shim. Mr Arthur Clayden, writing to tho British Australasian, warmly approved tho New Zealand Government's aohemo for lending money at a low rate of interest to farmers. He Bays, "In England there are insurance offices and banks with large accumulations of capital which would be thankful to invest millions on such security as this, if Government endorsement were given ib, at from 3 to 3J, per cent." New Zealand securities are still rising in the market. All the Government, municipal, and harbour stocks have gone up, and colonial stocks generally have an improved tendency. The Tusmanian million loan was subscribed four times over.

Mr O. E. G. Tegetmeicr, the London manager of the 'Bank of New Zealand, leaves by to-night'a mail for Dover, whence he proceeds via Calais to Brindisi, catching the P. 0.0. steamer there and going on to Auatralia and New Zealand.

Hia colonial tour will be a flying visit, bub it is expected to have beneficial results. Mr Tegetmeier was ono of the most active in the formation of the Colonisation Company, and in thia direction too good results are honed for from his visit. He ia a genuine enthusiast in hia calling as a banker, and personally he is aure to be as popular in New Zealand as he always has been in London. Mr A. Michie, of the same Bank, leavei next week en his return to New Zealand.