AUCKLAND DIOCESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1924, Page 8

AUCKLAND DIOCESE.

PROPOSOAL FOR DIVISION TARANAKI AND WAIKATO. MEETING AT HAMILTON. A meeting was held at Hamilton this week to discuss matters in connection with the forming of a new ibishopric. It was well attended. Archdeacon E. M- Cowie presiding over about- forty parishioners.

The chairman gave a brief resume of ■what had taken place. 'He .stressed the vast size of the Auckland Diocese, stretching from the North Cape to Tauinarunui, and from Cape Egmont to' Katikati. He pointed out the difficulty of traversing that great area, most of which had very indifferent means of ■communication. Already two bishops had broken clown under the strain of work, and the present scheme was to ensure that the present bishop did not meet the same fate as his predecessors. The matter was urgent. It was vitally necessary to .have all the arrangements made and in proper form to submit to the General Synod, which would meet in February. It was proposed by the vestry that, subject to the remainder of the diocese contributing in proportion, a sum of not more than £i9oo per annum ibe given to the funds of the proposed new diocese, half to ibe the new bishop’s stipend and half to the ventral fund of tne new diocese. This contribution would be made on condition that the new <see be at Hamilton, and, in the event of any further division, the contribution to be retained for the diocese of which Hamilton was the see

city. Air. AV. C. Hewitt said that the new dio'cese would probably take in all the south portion of the present Auckland Diocese. The dividing line would probably run from coast to coast, through Mercer, and would take in the present archdeaconry districts of Waikato and Taranaki. The name of the new diocese would be Taranaki.”

Mr. O. R. Farrar supported the vestry’s proposal, and explained the {boundaries of the bishoprics of Wellington. Waiapu and Auckland. Katikati was ii. Auckland, Tauranga was in Waiapu, Rotorua was in Waiapu, Taumarunui was in Auckland, Stratford was in Auckland, and Eltliam and Hawera were in Wellington. Mr. Farrar thought that, in a very short time, Taranaki would have its own bishop, and Waikato also, and that before any fresh division was made, the General Synod should be asked to consider the advisability of amending the existing boundaries so as to suit present-day conditions. He moved that the parish, while agreeing to the proposals of the vestry, as outlined, should ask the General Synod, before constituting any new bishopric, to alter the Im vndaries of the North Island bishoprics to suit present day means of travel and community interests, and, when constituting any new diocese, should make e. compact and easily-worked district, without considering the present diocesan boundaries. Mr. Farrar’s motion was carried unanimously.