Archbishop Reeves will be Sir Paul

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 2

Archbishop Reeves will be Sir Paul

PA Wellington Archbishop Paul Reeves can expect to become Sir Paul Reeves before he takes office as New Zealand’s gnext Governor-General about mid-November. All Governors-General of New Zealand appointed since about 1910 have been made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (G.C.M.G.) by the Queen, said the official secretary of Government House, Mr James Brown, yesterday. The . accolade conferring knighthood has normally been made before the new Governor-General’s official appointment by the Queen. Archbishop Reeves, the leader of New Zealand’s

Anglicans, told reporters soon after the announcement of his appointment on Friday that upon taking up office he would be known as His Excellency the Most Rev. Sir Paul Reeves. No definite date has been set . yet for Archbishop Reeves to take over the role of Governor-General, but it is expected to be about a fortnight after the present Governor-General, Sir David Beattie, retires on Sunday, November 10. As is customary, the Chief Justice, Sir Ronald Davison, will take over and administer the Government in the interregnum between Sir David’s leaving office and the new appointee taking over. About this time, Archbishop Reeves can be ex-

pected to be in London having an audience with the Queen and receiving the G.C.M.G. The interregnum will end with the formal swearing-in ceremony and administration of the oath by Sir Ronald to Archbishop Reeves on the steps of Parliament Buildings, weather permitting. Shortly before Sir David’s retirement, there is expected to be a formal State farewell, perhaps a luncheon, at the Beehive for Sir David and Lady Beattie. Archbishop Reeves’s resignation from the offices of Archbishop of New Zealand and Bishop of Auckland will take effect from Monday, September 30. He will continue being a priest and a bishop.