FUNERAL OF THE LATE BISHOP WILLIAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5007, 13 February 1878, Page 2

FUNERAL OF THE LATE BISHOP WILLIAMS.

Close to the grave of the late Sir Donald M'Lean now lie the mortal remains of Bishop Williams — a man no less useful to this country in his day and sphere than the late Native Minister. All classes of the community were present at the burial service yesterday, and excepting the occasion of Sir Donald's funeral, which took place on a Sunday, we do not remember seeing so large a gathering in the cemetery. Most of the clergy of the diocese attended in their canonicals, and the service was impressively read by the Eight Rev. E. C. Stuart, the new Bishop of Waiapu, and the Rev. H. W. St. Hill, the temporary Incumbent of St. John's. The Rev. Samuel Williams also read a portion of the burial service in Maori, which seemed appropriate at the funeral of the first missionary Bishop of Waiapu. This part of the service was read with much solemnity and feeling, and was heartily engaged in by all the Maoris round the grave. As a mark of respect to the deceased, nearly all the places of business, public offices, and banks, were closed from 2 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We noticed at the funeral most of our leading residents in Napier, and many of our country settlers. It was a touching scene, and one that will not soon be forgotten. The ministers of the other denominations in Napier were also present, a fact which goes far to prove the estimation in which the late Bishop was held by all Christian religionists. All who spoke of the late Bishop mentioned him with deep respect, and the feeling throughout the large multitude who assembled to shew honor to his memory was that for affability, geniality, sound experience and caution, for Christian feeling and demeanour, together with a deep insight into the character and wants of the native race, the late Bishop stood almost without a rival.