LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 8 April 1907, Page 7

LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Gisbornk, Saturday. At the lltli conference of the To Aute College • Students' Association, which began this week, the proceedings were of an interesting nature. Messrs. J. Thornton, headmaster of the Te Ante College, W. T. Williams, only son of the late Archdeacon Williams, and the Rev. A. F. Williams, arrived this morning from Te Ante. On their arrival at Awapuni they were welcomed in Maori fashion by a large assembly of natives, and a tailgi was held in respect to the memory of the late Archdeacon Williams. Laments were also sung. Alter the tangi the leading chiefs welcomed the visitors, and in eloquent speeches eulogised their departed friend. The name of Te Wireiuu, they said, was quite a household word among the Maoris, and it now almost entered into the genealogies of the .Maori race. Evidence of Archdeacon Williams' large-heartedness and generosity was to lie seen everywhere, even at the spot where they were gathered, in the form of a school, It was not often that a tangi was held over a pakeha, but the life of the late archdeacon had made its impress upon Maori life, and they could not but hold a tangi over their lamented friend, the lather of the Maori race. In response, Mr. William Williams said they appreciated the token of sympathy of the natives, lor the loss was not only theirs, but it was a common loss. However, they would not call back Archdeacon Williams even if they could. His father was a strongloving man, whom thej (his descendants) could never hope to he like, but they would endeavour to continue the things he had begun in his life. Mr. Thornton said the best memorial they could erect to the memory of their friend would be in their hearts, and what would phase him best would be to follow in his footsteps, and to carry on his work. In the archdeacon they had lost a father. The Rev. T. Williams said the native race were left as a sailed trust to Archdeacon Williams by his father, and Faithfully he had kept thai trust, and faithfully they (his relations) would also endeavour to keep that trust, which also hud been left to , them.