CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9615, 13 September 1894, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— diocese of Waiapu was formed in 1858, at which time the population within its bounds was almost wholly of the Maori race. It was afterwards. extended southwards so as to include the settled parts about Napier. It now extends from Tauranga *to Woodville, including those two places. The former town and the whole of the Bay of Plenty district as far south as Cape Runaway would be much better conjoined to the diocese of Auckland. This is the general, perhaps the universal, feeling of church people resident therein, and I venture, as an old settler and church official in the two Northern dioceses, to give public voice thereto. The Bay of Plenty district is naturally, commercially, and officially allied to Auckland, and the Auckland diocese already comprises Katikati, which is part of the Bay of Plenty district, and is but a few hours distant from Tauranga by a mail coach road. Moreover, all the endowments of the Waiapu diocese, as well as the ecclesiastical honours, are bestowed at the Napier end, this district being left out in the cold. But Igo a step further, and propose the abolition altogether of Waiapu as a separate diocese. Napier and New Plymouth (the latter being now comprised in the Auckland diocese) are both connected by railway with Wellington, and might ver,y well be included. in the Wellington diocese. That part of the country which lies around Gisborne would then naturally fall to be episcopally administered from Wellington, as Gisborne is in frequent and speedy sea communication with Napier. I respectfully submit these few remarks to the consideration of the diocesan and General synods of the Church of England at their next sessions.—l am etc., R. 0. Stewart. Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, Sept. 10,1894. .