THE LATE BISHOP WILLIAMS.

Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2356, 2 March 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE LATE BISHOP WILLIAMS.

One more from among the remnant of that' old devoted band, who went forth from England to preach the Goapel of Peace to a raoe, at that time only known for deeds of blood and savagery, long before the thought was entertained of annexing this country to the British Empire, has been taken to his rest. On Saturday evening, between nine and ten o'clock, Bishop '.Williams breathed his last («ays the Hawlce's \Bay Herald, of February 11). For some time past no hope of recovery from illness had been indulged in, though life was prolonged beyond expectation. On the 25th March, 1876, fifty years to a day from the date of his arrival in New Zealand, he was struck with palsy, from whioh, though rallying for a while, by force of a constitution unusually stroag, he never entirely recovered. He felt that his time had come—that he could no longer discharge the duties of his offioe so efficiently as before—and he lost no time in making way, by resignation of the charge of his diocese, for the services of a younger man. He lost strength by degrees, though wonderfully supported; nor was it until about three months since, that immediate danger was apprehended. Then, for a while, he appeared to be sinking fast; but the end was not yet. Again he rallied, and hope • was almost entertained,.though never encouraged by the medical attendant. No immediate danger was apprehended until Friday last, when he beoame restless, and a change was evident to the practical eye; and on the following day, without any appearance of suffering, he breathed his last. Bishop Williams was born July 10,1800. He was educated for the medical profession, tbm abquiring knowledge whioh stood him in good stead in another career. But he early changed his views concerning a profession in life, entering himself at Oxford, where he prepared for holy orders, with a view to joining his elder brother, who had already prooeeded as a missionary to New Zealand. In 1825 he was ordained by the Bishop of London, coming out shortly after, via New South Wales, to this country, where he arrived March 25, 1826. After working, in conjunction with his brother Henry, for some years at.Paihia and the Waimale, in the Bay of Islands/he set forth for Poverty Bay, where he arrived early in 1840. His duties then took him over the whole country from Hick's Bay to Cape Palliser. Towards the end of 1850, he left for a visit to England, where his old University, to which his name had travelled from the antipodes, conferred upon him the honorary degree of D.O.L. In April, 1859, the Diocese of New Zealand, till then held by Bishop Selwyn, having been divided, he was consecrated Bishop of Waiapu. ' Until 1865, he made Poverty Bay his headquarters ; when his removal was. rendered .necessary by the Hau-hau invasion, and the'destruction of the mission station, the circumstances of which are still fresh in the memory of our readers. In 1867, after a temporary sojourn at the Bay of Islands, to which place he had carried up his native schools, consisting of joung men, boysj and' girls, mainly of the Ngatiporou, he came with the concurrence of Bishop Abraham to Napier, which then part of the Diocese of Wellington. In the following year the boundaries of the Diooeie of Waiapu were extended, so as to include, the'whole province of Hawke's Bay. Our readers need no remindings from us of his work, performed among ourselves, to the satisfaction and profit of all. His best monument is in the loving memory of all who were under his charge.

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