The Church in New Zealand

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 17

The Church in New Zealand

AUCKLAND IN THE ’SEVENTIES. 'Auckland's Third Bishop On the resignation in 1874 by Dr. Croke of the See of Auckland, the diocese remained for a period of five years Without a llishop of its own. in, the Consistory, held in

Rome on the 2oth June, 1877, the Rev. John Peter Chareyre, S.M., pastor of Christchurch, was preconised as Bishop of Auckland in succession to Dr. Croke; but ho declined the preferred dignity. At length, after many delays, the Most Rev. Dr. Steins, Titular Archbishop, was promoted to the see on the loth May, 1879. In 1861, Dr. Steins had'been appointed Coadjutor-Bishop, and soon after succeeded to the charge of the diocese of Bombay. In the year 1867 he was translated to the Archbishopric of Calcutta, where he labored indefatigably till the year 1878. - An accident which befel him, and heart disease, which consequently developed itself, obliged him to resign the see and to seek rest in Europe. With health restored, and in obedience to a mandate from the Holy See, he set out for the new field of his missionary labors (Auckland) towards the close of 1879. Passing through Dunedin, accompanied by four Benedictine Fathers and one Jesuit lay Brother, the voyagers received a most cordial welcome from the Right Rev. Dr. Moran, In - the month of March,

1881, an over exertion brought on a relapse in Dr. Steins former malady, arid he resolved to resign the arduous charge for which he considered himself no longer equal. He sailed from Auckland for Sydney, on the 4th May, 1881, and succumbed op the 9th of the following September. A Solemn Requiem Mass and Office were held at St. Mary’s Cathedral; his Grace the Archbishop as well as a great many of the clergy and laity were present. The remains of the deceased prelate were interred in that portion of the cemetery. North Shore, set apart for members of the Society. An 01d*time Priest Following is an extract from a letter written by the revered pioneer Superior of the Sisters of Mercy (Mother Cecilia Maher) to the parent convent of St. Leo, Carlow, Ireland:

Auckland, 7th June, 1874: “We have lost a fine young priest of great promise, a Father Norris. Ho went through his course-in Carlow. He went up to the Thames Convent; -and was so kind and thoughtful. He was a fine preacher, but unfortunately over exerted himself. He got a bad fever, and God called him to Himself to receive the reward of his zeal. 'Nothing could exceed the sorrow of the people. Such' a funeral was never seen in Auckland.” —'