PROPOSED DIOCESE OF TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 299, 27 January 1910, Page 4

PROPOSED DIOCESE OF TARANAKI.

The proposal for making the province of Taranaki a separate diocese is of interest not only to adherents of tli3 Anglican Church, but to all having at heart the interests of the province, for it marks but another step in Taranaki's progress and development. The proposal advanced another stage, and an important stage, on Monday, when the General Synod of the Church of England, now ,in session in the Empire City, 'set up a committee to consider the advisability of taking steps at once to constitute the new diocese. Both the diocesan synods concerned, Auckland and Wellington, had previously endorsed the proposal, so it is apparent the feeling is general among the governing Church bodies that the time

is ripe for the granting of Taranaki complete ecclesiastical self-government. As is generally known, the lower portion of Taranaki at present forms part of the Wellington diocese, and the remainder part of the Auckland dioces'e. During recent years settlement in Taranaki has grown considerably, and it has been impossible for the bishops j with so much ground of their own to cover without that of Taranaki, to do justice to the work of this province. The proposed diocese has an area of 3777 square miles, and a population (according to 1900 figures') of 47,489, the proportion ot Anglican Church people being from 19,000 to 20,000. At its present rate of progress Taranaki should soon possess a population rivalling that of some of the other dioceses of the dominion. Indeed, it must now be larger than that of tlie diocese of Waiapu. The difficulties in the way of creating another diocese are not inconsiderable, the chief difficulty being that of finance. It is estimated that a capital sum of £15,000 would need to be provided to meet the expenses of a bishopric. To raise such a sum would not be an easy matter. But it lias been suggested that the difficulty could be got over were a divine with private means to be prevailed upon to accept the office and to give his services' in return for a small income, endeavoring during his term of office to build up an endowment fund. Another suggestion is to make the vicar of St. Mary's Church, Xew Plymouth, ex-officio bishop of the diocese until a sufficient endowment could be accumulated. Whatever scheme is decided upon, it is to be hoped the Church, the associations o f which are so intimately connected with the history and progress of the province, will at an early date succeed in carrying the scheme to a successful issue.