WAIKATO DIOCESE.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 2

WAIKATO DIOCESE.

LAUNCHING OF SCHEME. HAMILTON'S UNSELFISHNESS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. " Thd new Anglican Church Diocese of Waikato is launched in auspicious circumstances owing' to the goodwill of the town of Hamilton, the sportsmanship of Auckland, and the good work of Taranaki," said Mr E. W. M. Lysons, in proposing the toast, " The New Diocese," at a dinner complimentary to Arehibishop Averill. In 1868 the first -subdivision, that (if the formation.of. the Dunedin Diocese, had been undertaken, said Mr Lysofle. The second subdivision would be made, he" hoped, some time next year, and would merge Taranaki, at present in the too extensive Auckland district, In the Waikato Diocese, with headquarters at Hamilton. He did not, know exactly when the necessity for division became apparent, but. the agifction dating back some years showed that the Church in Taranaki was a hve body. Quite rightly the general synod would not allow the creation of a new diocese that was hot producing at least £IOOO a year for a bishop's stipend, and could not make provision fo<: a bishop's accommodation. These conditions had been beyond the capacity of the Taranaki district. At the last meeting of the general synod a commission had been set up to go into the question of rearranging the boundaries of the diocese in the North Island. The Auckland Diocese extended from the North Cape to a point near Rahotu and contained t'oughly one-third of the population Of the Dominion, Auckland city contributing about 200,000. In that large aiea there" were now farms everywhere, thanks to the importance of Ihe dairying industry, and many towns and villages had sprung up where formerly" ti-trce and fern held possession. That extra population meant increased activity on the part of the Anglican Church. Tribute to Bishop. ■ : All would respectfully and gratefully acknowledge the great attention given to Taranaki by the bishop, said Mr. Lysons. His withdrawal from rftat office meant a great loss to the district, but the bishop had been faxed 1o the limit of his endurance and'it was right that his burden should-be lightened. The extra work meanl either the appointment of an assistantbishop or the subdivision of the Auckland Diocese. The synod had favoured subdivision. ,lwf there were financial difficulties, jsxofftl&n had unselfishly eorne to thV relief with an endowment of a block of land in the centre of that town as a perpetual endowment of £12,000 and maintenance of a bishop at Hamilton. Rev. E. >I. Strong and Mr. W. H. Skinner had worked hard at the- problems and had proved to the synod that the best course was to set up a commission. ; TH6 feptift of this commission was favourable to the creation of the new ' diocese, and it recommended that sums totalling about £IB,OOO be transferred froM Auckland to flic new dioedse of Waikato. The controlling t body was a committee of 10, four of whdffl were elected by Taranaki and 41x by the Waikato Archdeaconry. This committee would haft'e submitted to it the names of persons considered suitable for the office of bishop and would deal with matters of finance. "TaranaW will have to subscribe toward the new diocese,"' concluded Mr. Lysons,-; "but;such capital sums will -remain the property of the archdeaconry subscribing them. The business regarding the diocese has been put through expeditiously. Auckland, Waikato and Taranaki have made sacrifices, but have gained in other ways." ■ interests of the Maoris Archbishop Averill said ,it vyould be necessary at some future date to have another diocese along the Taranaki coast, the Waikato Diocese then laking in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty. There was another big scheme coming forward, the formation of a new diocese for the Maoris, business in connection with which would ■ lie dealt with by a special meeting of synod in Wellington. The Maoris wanted a diocese of their own and he believed the movement was the outcome of the world-wide desire on ths part of all races for more self-expres-sion and more development. If the scheme was approved the Maoris would have a bishop and a synod of ! their own. "I want people to believe that this Is being done in the best interests of the Maoris, and will tend to their regarding their church as the centre of their community life," said the Primate. "They will therefore not be so liable to be called away by the false prophets that arise. It may be that the Maori diocese will be formed: before the Waikato one."