PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21461, 1 May 1935, Page 12

PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND

ARCHBISHOP • AVERILL'S RECORD STRENGTH AND WISDOM PRAISED U'iiESS ASSOCIATION TKLEOIUM.I AUCKLAND, April 30. A public gathering of nearly 3000 persons in the Town Hall to-night gave a remarkable demonstration of their esteem and affection for Archbishop Averill on the occasion of the completion of his twenty-fifth year as a -bishop, his twenty-first year as Bishop of Auckland, and his tenth year as Primate of New Zealand. Tributes to the different aspects of the splendid service he has rendered to the Church and to the community were paid by Archdeacon Macmurray, on behalf of his clergy, Mr C J. Tunks, on behalf of the laity, Bishop-West-Watson (Christchurch), as representing the South Island, Canon W. K. Keretene for the Maori people, the Mayor (Mr G. W. Hutchison), Archdeacon Holbrook, en behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Rev. J. A. Thomson, on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations. The speakers drew attention to the grave difficulties of the times in which the Archbishop had held office, and the strength and wisdom with which lie had surmounted these and led the Church on to fresh victories. In all the congratulations, a very prominent place was given to the inspiring and helpful influence of Mrs Averill. In returning thanks, the Archbishop briefly reviewed his years of office, mentioning among other facts that 60 new churches had been built in his diocese, and he had confirmed more than 40,000 candidates, and ordained 60 or 70 deacons and priests