THE LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13854, 18 March 1907, Page 2

THE LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS.

«B——; — THE FUNERAL. (Pm United Peiss Association.)' NAPIER, March 17. The funeral of. the Into Archdeacon Samuel Williams, took place at To Auto • yestordrty afternoon. A largo and representative gathering of Europeans and Natives was present. Letters and telegrams of condolence' and sympathy have 1 boon received from all parls of the colony. Tho funeral cortege was ono of (lie largest] seen in Hawlre's Bay. A memorial service was held in Iho Napier Cathedral on Friday evening. II may be said that the news of Archdeacon Williams's death was received with feelings of profound regret all over the colony, and his wide and beneficial influence in Native affairs placed him in n prominent position amongst those who have helped in tho making of colonial history. Tho Yen. Archdeacon Snmusl Williams, who died at Pukehou on' Thursday Inst, completed his Soth year whilst in Dunedin at the General Synod in January last. He was the second son'of tho well-known missionary Archdeacon Henry Williams, wiio arrived at ■ Pahia, New Zealand, as far back as August, ; 1823. Archdeacon "\Yilliaru3 was born at Hempstead, Middlesex, and when ho reached thi) colony was just ono year old., He was partly educated by his parents, and his education was completed at St. John's Collegiate School, after the founding oi that institution, by Bishop Sehvyn in 1843. Ho was ordained deacon in 18IG by Bishop Sehvyn, and was sent down to Otaki to assist the Rev. 0. Hadfield, who was in failing health at tho i time, and ho aided in building the historical Native Church, which still stands' there, and in tho. vicinity of which is a memorial erected to tho chief To Itauparaha. 11l 1852 lie was ordained priest, and in 1851 ho went to tho Hawke's Bay district, in which ho has resided ever since at To Autc. Archdeacon Williams married his counsin, & daughter of tho Kev. W. Williams (afterwards Bishop of AVaiapu). His oldest brother, Edward, who is still living at To Ante, was formerly the well-known magistrate at the' Bay of Islands, and in 1810, on beard H.M.S. Herald, with Csiptain Bunting, he acted as interpreter in procuring signatures to tho Treaty of Waitangi. ' The great work of the' deceased's gentleman's life was performed at To Autc. Sir George Grey, very much, against his wish and that of the Church Missionary Society, begged of him to go to Hawke's Bay in 1852 as the European population was then beginning to settle in the district, and he (Sir George) was anxious that one of Mr Williams's knowledgo and infiuonco with the Maoris should act between tho two races. The statesman promised that if Mr Williams would do so he should carry out tho educational work : in which ho had been so much interested in Otaki by granting him '1000 acres of land for tile purpose, and this was to be supplemented by an equal number of acres from the Maoris ' themselves. This, however, was never satisfactorily carried out, and Archdoacon Williams found himself in the difficult position of having to struggle on for some years in this now district, living for a .considerable period with his wife and little daughter in a raupo whare, doing his best meanwhile to educate tho Natives. This state of affairs continued for years, but Archdeacon Williams manfully struggled on, and, j practically out of his own pocket, with little assistance from the Government, he successlully converted this laud into a property which became of increasing value imd'er his management. He erected and founded the To Auto College, which now and for many years has been a • flourishing school for Maori boys, ' under the ablo head mastership of Mr Thornton. There are usually 70 or 80 boys at the scliool, and the good that this institution j has done amongst the Natives is not to bo calculated. At his own expense Archdeacon Williams founded in Napier tho Hukarcre Scliool for Girls, which was conducted by his mother and sisters. This was in the early seventies. All the deceased gentleman's early struggles were characterised by indomitable perseverance, and his excellent knowledge of agricultural and pastoral matters rendered liim, as tenant of tho extensive estate, a wealthy man, and his wealth has been continually disbursed for philanthropic purposes in tho most liberal manner. Wlien Archdcaepn Williams first occupied tho estate a largo portion was a hopeless swamp, but, with considerable skill and' in the face of much op- i position, he actually diverted a river into a new channel, whereby tho vast acreage of this swamp was made suitable for agricultural purposes, adding very greatly to the value of the property. As a man Archdeacon Williams was fearless. He was kindhearted and exceedingly popular with all with whom he camo in contact. His influence with tho Maoris was unbounded. Fifty years ago, when the relations between the two laces wore somewhat critical, he was most successful in preventing serious outbreaks, and in establishing pence between the parties. As a judge of stcck ho had few equals in tho colony. Mrs Williams piedcceascd him by several years, The Most Kev. the Primate has wired to the relatives of tho laic Archdeacon Williams expressing condolenco with thcni on the death of tho archdeacon,