SijARTIIRE OF BISHOP VIARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 953, 20 June 1868, Page 3

SijARTIIRE OF BISHOP VIARD.

;•:- : (fc'rom the "N, Z. Advertiser," June 8.) JJ?hb announcement of the intended departure for Eur6pe of the Right Rev. Mon- '.. -Yiard, Kbmah Catholic Bishop of Wellington, has,., as we anticipated it would do when making the fact known, (caused : a lively feeling of regret amongst ;- HH classes of the country. On Saturday -afternoon a public meeting called by handbills,: and with only a few hours' notice, was held in the Athenaeum, for the purpose of agreeing on a farewell address to ■ Jjis. Lordship. . His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and, amongst others present, were the Hon. E. W. Stafford, Colonial Secretary ; the Hon. John. Hall, Colonial Treasurer ; the Hon. John Johnston, His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, and most of the leading men of Wellington. The Chairman, in a brief, speech, spoke of the deep regret which men of .all- denominations must feel at losing even, for a time the presence of so ; old; esteemed a colonist as Bishop Viard, who, during his long residence in the colony, had earned the admiration and esteem of all who had witnessed his admi- . jrable and Christian life. After alluding in eulogistic terms to the great success which, had attended, the native establishment greeted by His Lordship, and to the many virtues which had distinguished the venerable prelate, His Honor briefly adverted to the J services rendered to the Grbveriiment by' Bishop Viard in connec- . tion with recent disturbances on the West Coast. On the conclusion of His Honor's speech, His Lordship Bishop Viard entered the room, accompanied by several gentlemen. His Lordship was received ma most enthusiastic manner, and took his -seat beside the Chairman. '■/Mr. Justice Johnston,- in eloquent terms, paid a high tribute to the virtues bf Bishop Viard, and after expressing the genuine sorrow so generally felt at the prospect of his absence, he proposed the adoption of an address to the effect of the draft, which he read as follows : — Bishop Yiahd,-- The inhabitants of this City, of all creeds, have heard with regret of your approaching departure to Europe; One who has so Worthily occupied and long filled such a conspicuous position as you have done cannot leave, even temporarily, without '. creating a void to be painfully felt by they - whole community, as well as by the members of your 7 own religious faith. Associated with the highly venerated Bishop ; Pompallier in the Missionary work going on in New Zealand and the Islands of the Southern Sea before colonisation impressed its foot-print on our shores, we owe you tnuoh, in common with similar self-deny-ing men of your own and other churches, independency of your being specially identified , wjth this City as its first Roman Catholic Bishop. We owe you much both for the amelioration of the temporal ills incidental to most persons in the hard every-day life of a young colony, as well as for the administration of those higher consolations which the greater future demands for us all. Nor can we forget or suffer to be ignored the valuable aid you have cordially rendered in, the, efforts which have occasionally been necessary -to uphold Jaw, and to promote . peace and good will amongst all classes. ,i We prayerfully commend you to the Great Father and Protector of all, that He will be graciously pleased to preserve you in health and strength, and permit you in due time to return to this diocese, for the best interest of which you have so long and faithfully laboured. . The Hon. E. W. Stafford, in seconding the motion, expressed the obligation the Government felt under to Bishop Viard for the assistance he had so recently rendered them in keeping law and order at a time, when both were threatened. He also spjbke highly of the success Of Bishop Viard' s amongst the natives, . and the admirable life which had so endeared His Lordship to all classes and all creeds, of the community. The motion was agreed to amidst great applause, and the Chairman, in a few well chosen words, presented the address to His ' Lordship, who seemed much affected, and after a pause, replied as follows : — Gentlemen, — I need not say how gratified I „: have beep at the address you have so kindly . i ■presented tomeon the eve of my departure for Europe. Coming, as it does, from fifteen ,; colonists professing all creeds, your affectionate ;r;.wordB.are a consolation that I could not have looked forward to, and future missionaries -■■■ will be rejoiced and be encouraged to bear v.^with miseries: and deprivations incidental to i\ a first settlement, by the knowledge that their .^efforts '.will be appreciated by those who may ;.. hereafter reap the benefit of their exertions. ; vYpur acknowledgment of my efforts to pre- . 'serve peace and good-will amongst all classes ' of men is most gratifying. I have acted as I have done, knowing , from the experience of ages as proved, by history that without laws 'men become demoralised, and religion suffers, " There is nb better foundation for the happi- : ness afad well being ' of a nation, than when 'Religion, is the support and chief-aider of the '-" -^gratefully recommend myself and my journey to f your prayers, and I will not fail in the tombs of the glorious Apostles Saints Peter and £aul, at Rome, to pray for you all, that Christian charity may exist amongst us, '.and that we may all meet in a happy eter- /> nity. :^ - -; -■-; - • -. - .