A TRIBUTE TO BISHOP VIARD

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 41, 13 October 1904, Page 29

A TRIBUTE TO BISHOP VIARD

«v < \fci are indebted top Mr. A. McMinn, of the ' Wairarapa^Dailj: Times,' for a copy of that paper of the 24th ult. whiffy contains the following in memonam lines* by liue'l&te $Lr. C. E. Haughton, of D\me<hn. Ihe intro'djusctiory notice explains the circumstances under which tine lines were penned :— Wfeen tvhe late Bishop Viard died in Wellington over thirty-two years ago, the late Mr. C. E. Haughton, who passed away only recently in Ihinedin, wrote a touching poem on the Bishop's death. This poem we have repeatedly been asked to reproduce, but have not been able to obt/ain a copy, though we have made inquiries in several probable quarters. Last week, however, in the course of some alterations to a residence in Palmerston Nortlh, on the removal of a mantel-shelf, behind it was found ' a copy which had appeared in the Man'awatu ' Standard ' some years before. We now, t'herefoie, have pleasure in acceding to the request so often made for its reproduction— but not, unfortunately, until after the death of its gifted author The late Bishop Viaid will be remembered by many old residents of Wairarapa, who knew him in Wellington as one of the most learned, pious, devoted, broad-minded, charitable, and self-sacrificing ecclesiastics' of the Roman Catholic Church, whose death was deeply deplored by all who knew him, irrespective of religious belief. At the fame of his deatih it was said of him that in all the wide world he had left not an enemy behind. It was the recollection of his many good qualities of head and heart which, doubtless, inspired the poet who has since joined lym whom he so revered ' on the golden share.' Mamy, to-day, wh/o read the touching and appropriate lines, and note the initials of the author, will reverently breathe Uie helartfelt supplication, ' Roquiescat in pace.'