AUCKLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 23

AUCKLAND

Archdeacon Clarke, who passed away on 21st, wa3 a son of the first Native Projector. He came to New Zealand as a boy in the earliest days of the colony, and his death removes another from the small remnant of those who were personally associated with the first colonisation of New Zealand. His ' father being chief Native Protector, he saw much of Maori life, and in his youth was thrown directly onto contact with Bishop Selwyn. He went to England to_receive his ministerial training, and returned to New Zealand an ordained clergyman to take up work amongst the Maoris, for which his knowledge of the Maorr-people and of their language specially fitted him. He has for many years acted as overseer of the Maori church work in the Auckland district, and under his superintendence it has been carried on by Native ministers with very great success. The death of Archdeacon Clarke ■will be a great loss to the Anglican Church in the Auckland diocese, as his intimate knowledge of everything connected with the Native race enabled him to do valuable work to the- church, and placed him in a unique position in regard to the super--intendence of the work of Christianising the Maoris. Although he had almost reached his three score years and ten, iArchdeacon Clarke continued in harness till Ms death, actively superintending the work for wihich he was so conspicuously qualified. He was a man of an exceedingly gentle and lovable disposition, and his death will be 'keenly felt 'by many, both inside and outside the church.