OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 9

OBITUARY

BISHOP WILLIAMS The death has occurred at Napier of the Right Rev. H. W Williams, Bishop of Waiapu. Bishop Williams, who was in his seventy-seventh year, returned a few days ago from a trip to the northern part of his diocese, and on medical advice went to bed with the intention of taking a prolonged rest. A meeting of the diocesan nomination board was held in his room on Monday night, and after beginning to read the minutes he stated he could not continue He suffered a seizure and died a few minutes later. The death of Bishop Williams removes one who rendered long and notable service to the Anglican Church in New Zealand and particularly to the Maori people. In this, and as a Maori scholar, he carried on the tradition created by the Williams family from the arrival of his greatuncle, the Rev. Henry Williams, at the Bay of Islands 114 years ago. Sixth occupant of the see of Waiapu, Bishop Williams was preceded in the office by his father and grandfather. The latter, Bishop William Williams, who had joined the Rev. Henry Williams in New Zealand in 1826, was consecrated first Bishop pf Waiapu in 1859 His son, Bishop W. L. Williams, was consecrated to the see in 1895 and was succeeded in 1910 by the Rt. Rev. A. W. Averill, now Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand. It is doubtful if any other instance is on record of three generations occupying in turn the same episcopal chair. Bishop Herbert Williams was born at Waerenga-a-hika, Poverty Bay, in 1860, and began his education at Christ's College, Christchurch. Winning a university scholarship, he took his B.A. degree at Canterbury College in 1876 and M.A. in 1880. He then proceeded to Cambridge University, where he was a Rustat Scholar, and graduated B.A. in 1884 and M.A. in 1887. After two years as a master at Haileybury College, he was ordained deacon in 1886 and priest the following year, and returned to New Zealand in 1889 to become vice-principal of Te Rau Native Theological College. 3ishorne Having held this office for five years, he was appointed principal and remained at the college until 1902 From that year until 1929 he was superintendent of Maori missions on the East Coast and in 1907 he was aopointed Archdeacon of Waiapu On the resignation of Bishop W W Sedgwick in 1929 he was unanimously elected bishop and was consecrated in St John's Cathedral Napier on February 9. 1930 The bishop was elected a fellow of the Boval Society of New Zealand in 1923. and for manv vcars took an active interest in its ethnological work and that of the Polynesian Society He was lately appointed a member of the national historical committee for the New Zealand Centennial Bishop William? is survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters One son, the Rev. Nigel Williams, who lately returned from Singapore, has been appointed assistant chaplain at Wanganui Collegiate School.