NEW BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 12

NEW BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

ARCHDEACON SIMKIN CONSECRATION IN MAY OR JUNE (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEOHAiI.) AUCKLAND, April 24. The new Bishop of Auckland as the successor to Archbishop Averill is Archdeacon 'William John Simkin, Archdeacon of Manukau, secretary of the Auckland Diocese, and provincial secretary of General Synod. The official documents were signed this morning before Archdeacon Mac Murray, acting as commissary for Archbishop West-Watson. The nomination was carried out by ballot at a special session of the Auck-

BISHOP SIMKIN land Synod on April 10, under the presidency of Bishop Fitchett, of Dunedin. All bishops of the province and all standing committees subsequently approved the nomination. Arrangements for the consecration will be completed as soon as possible. It is not known whether it . will be in May or June, but it must be-on a Sunday or a saint’s day, and arranged so that all- bishops of the Province of New Zealand can attend. Archdeacon Mac Murray, who is aged 85, announced to-day that, through ill-health, he was resigning \as Archbishop’s commissary, . This position is to be taken by Archdeacon Hawkins. Archdeacon MacMurray .will, be Archdeacofl Emeritus. The two most important positions he is resigning are Archdeacon of Auckland and Vicar,-General of the Diocese,