THE NEW POLYNESIAN BISHOPRIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 2

THE NEW POLYNESIAN BISHOPRIC.

IMPORTANT ARRANGEMENTS. INCLUSION WITI-lIN NEW ZEALAND ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE. (Fhou Our Own Cobbesponmnt.), LONDON, July 26. ■ I am indebted to flip Ycry Rev. ,'tlio. Dean of Dunedin for some interesting in.formation, relative' to the projected new. dioceso of Polynesia, which baa not yet-. become public. . A decision lias just been arrived at by ■the ecclesiastical authorities that a selection shall be made almost immediately of .'a. clergyman to be consecrated as Bishop of Polynesia. No personal selection has (jot been definitely made, but the appointment will certainly be settled within the next. three monlhs. It is agreed on all . hands that the clergyman' to be appointed must, bo a. young and vigorous man. fully capable of facing all difficulties and possible hardships that may he involved in his arduous duties. Tli'o Society for the -Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts liasftjtamisnd to contribute a grant of £500 per annum towards the new see.

it is the wish of all the anthoritois on this sido that, if iiossiblo, and provided 'that tho step & approved by llio Church, of Now Zealand, that tho now dicceso o£ Polynesia should he included in the ecclesiastical province of New Zealand, in tho samo manner and on the sarno footing as l-ho sister FacifiS, dioccso of Melanosis. In this connection, one peculiar rincl rather ■interesting point arises. Several South Sea Islands tlmt would naturally and geographically have come within the now diocese of Polynesia. have latterly ken annexed to New Zealand at tho instance of tho Into Mr Seddon, so that, as the ecclesiastical provinco of New Zealand is defined as comprising all territory lying within what is' officially known as the colony of Now Zealand, these islands will have to bo regarded as lying within tho ecclesiastical provinco propor, and not within the Polynesian limit so 'far as diocesan boundaries arc conccrneu. But if the prcsont plan be carried out of including the now <liocese formally within tho New Zealand province, no troubles or disputes can aviso on this score., . Another point that remains, to bo mentioned is that Tonga will jiot bo included within the new diocese of Polynesia. It is in Tonga, it will be remembered, that Bishop Willis has worked 6ince his extrusion from Honolulu by tho American authorities on the annexation of that country by tho United States. It has not l>een thought worth while or desirable to interfere with Bishop Willis or with the ecclesiastical administration of Tonga during tiiat prelate's lifetime. When the time ultimately arrives for the eloso of his labours it is anticipated that no difficulty

will ho experienced in making such frceh provisions as may prove necessary or expedient. It is understood that, when that tirno shall arriyo Tonga will at onco be included in the diocese of Polynesia.