AMONG THE BOOKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 79

AMONG THE BOOKS.

BISHOP HARPER AKD THE CAXTER BURY SETTLEMENT. (By the Rev. H. T. Purches, M.A. Vicar of New Brighton.) Second edition; revised and enlarged with illustrations. Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs (Ltd.),. Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. Those interested in the life and woTk of the late Bishop Harper and the early, ecclesiastical history of Canterbury and Otago will welcome this new and enlarged edition of an interesting work. The fires edition, published in 1903, boon passed) into private hands, and we learn from the preface that circumstances prevented w reprint. Since then a number of documents have beep found, from which, the author has been able to obtain an. acount of the Bishop's early life and his important work at Eton. The journeyings for the first year in New Zealand have Leen recalled by Archdeacon Harper, and for the subsequent journeys in Canterbury and Otago the author has levied on -a. booklet by Canon Stack. Many of the chapters are entirely new, while others have been carefully revised and added to. The Bishop's journeyings in Otago and Southland are more fully described, and there is a brief account of the Bishop Jenner episode, which at the time was the ali-absorbing topic in Dunedin, in* particular, and Qtago and Southland in, general. The author has performed his self-imposed task with great ability. Xlie material available rendered the task noti by any means easy. The Bishop's modesty, sealed his lips concerning some of his veryi trying personal adventures, and the fear that his wife and family might become alarmed prevented las writing about, them. Frequent sdOls from Ms horse while traversing a trackless country, x and narrow escapes from drowning in the unbridged creeks and rivers, the fords on which were even then unknown, were for this reason little more than hinted at., Passing over the Bishop's . early life, it is to be noted that he was 52 years of age when he accepted the call.Tke prospect was not too inviting. Half of the 20 clergy who had come to Canterbury with the early settlers had left the settlement, while the first bishop-desig-' nate, after a stay of six weeks, returned to England and resigned his appointment.* Despite his years and 'his large family the position was accepted ; and on December 23, 1856, the Bishop axrived at Lyttelton.For 33 years the Bishop worked strenuously and well, gaining the love of his own people and the respect of other denominations. What discouragements he had to meet and overcome are little more than briefly hinted at in the work before us. Havincr organised the parishes in and around Christchurch. the Bishop mode 'his first visit south. Where Timaru now is there was then one solitary, hut. Oamaru was not, Mr Filleul's homestead at Papakaio being the meeting place for churchmen. At Waikouaiti the Fishop was welcomed at Mr John Jones' rf Cherry Farm. There was no road between) Waikouaiti and Dunedin, nothing but a. faint track over the summit of what was then known as Snowy Mountain, and now. known as Flagstaff Hill. It is not surprising to learn, that in scrambling down' on the Dunedin side the pa-ck-horse fell 1 and lamed himself. Darkness set in, and; the Bishop and his son became en£angled in a piece of brash ; the son managed to j make his way to the home of Mr A. CStrode, the magistrate of the day, and a. search party witli lanterns rescued the Bishop and the horses. The journey from Christchurch had occupied 18 days. Tea days were spent in pastoral work in Dunedin, where £58 had to be paid for a packhoree. On the journey south o$ Dunedin no serious trouble was encountered until the Mataura was reached. The author mistakenly supposes the Bishop reached this river about where Gore now. stands, and says the district . was known a.«s Tuturau. As a matter of fact, the place was 6ome nine miles below GoTe, as it became known shortly afterwards as Longford. The river was not fordable, but making hie way down to Toitois the Bishop was furried across, having been joined by Mr Pinkerton, a stock inspector. Tliey continued along the beach; until, brought up by tfo?- Waitnna Lagoon. Mr Pinkerton and Mi George Harper undressed and explored the lagoon ; and it was decided that as the bottom was too scft for horses the animals should be turned loose, the luggage planted, and the lagoon crossed naked. This was safely accomplished, and the party then commenced the walk of 11 miles along the beach. They suffered terribly from thirst, and their tongu-es swelled and protruded from their mouths. They at length reached an occupied hut at Tewaewae Point, and after resting wme ferried across Bluff Harbour, where Captain Ellis welcomed them. Tlie journey to Invercargill had to be performed on foot, <md only those who know the ugly creeks ■which had t<"> be crossed can form any estimate of that arduous ia&k. There were about twenty tiny huts in Invercargill, and an inn of three rooms. Riverton was visUed, and then the return journey was commenced, the route taken on this occa.-ion being aoi(\=s the Edendale and Mataura Plains. In fording the Mataura the Bishon had a wonderful escape from drowning, being

washed off his horse ; lie managed to reach the opposite bank. After many hardships and trials the Bishop and his son reached ChrLstchurch, but in what a plight! The hat proclaimed the Bishop, but his clothe*, held together on him by stiipe of flax, vrevs in a lamentable state of dilapidation. Subsequent journeys to Ota-go and Southland were not so trying, but the Bishop had some singular adventures in his visitations. Perhaps the first trip to the West Coast, among the diggers, was even worse than the first trip through Otago. Space docs not permit of even a glance at the manner in which the Bishop carried out his diocesan duties — with rare tact and firmness. In 1889 he laid down his pastoral staff, being theu in his 86th year, but not to rest. Every morning and every evening for the next" three years he attended the Cathedral service twice a day. During the next year his attendance was not so regular. Then came the first and last ilJne.-s of his life, and 10 clays short of his 90th year there passed away "A great man, a great priest, a great bishop."