CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 261, 29 November 1856, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

(From the Lyttelton Times.)

Bishopric of Christchurch, New Zealand. — We understand that the Rev. H. J. C. Harper, M.A., Vicar of Mortimer, Berks, has on the nomination of the clergy and laity in public meeting assembled, accepted the Bishopric of Christchuch, in the settlement of Canterbury, New Zealand, and will be consecrated in England towards the end of July. Mr. Harper was educated at Hyde Abbey, Winchester, and Queen's College, Oxford. The early portion of his career was spent at Eton, where he officiated for many years as " conduct," or chaplain to the College, having previously held the office of private tutor to the sons of Sir Charles Coote. In 1840 Mr. Harper accepted from Eton College the Vicarage of Stratfi eld Mortimer, a benefice of almost nominal value, but provided with a roomy house and pleasant grounds. Here he has ever since been engaged in private tuition, but by no means to the abandonment or slack performance of the duties appertaining to a large rural charge. In the remotest corner of the parish, his face is as familiar as it is ever beheld with reverence and attachment ; and the day of his departure to a distant and wider field of labour will be one of unfeigned and bitter sorrow to the people whom he has served so faithfully and disinterestedly. In the various excellencies necessary to constitute the perfect parish priest, few men can surpass him ; for he combines, in a remarkable degree, the most spotless integrity and purity of life, firmness and sweetness of temper, largeness of views, and unflagging zeal ever accompanied by prudence and moderation. With a family of fourteen children, all doing credit to their parental training, he has always abounded in almsgiving and liberally ; and, as one instance of this trait, it should be recorded that when, a few years since, the parish church of Mortimer was repaired in a simple and unpretending style, he defrayed, out of his own private means, and over and above his own previous contribution, the large sum of £300, which the subscription of the parishioners did not cover. In Mr. Harper, the churchmen of Canterbury and Otago will obtain a Bishop belonging to no party but sincerely attached to the principles of the Reformation, and in every way qualified to build up and enlarge the Colonial Church, not only by his firm wisdom and singleness of purpose, but by his clear and vigorous intellect, his capacity and impressiveness as a preacher, and his practical acquaintance with the varied duties of the ministerial office. — Reading Mercury.