Page:Letters from New Zealand (Harper).djvu/184

158 "Sire, the Bishop: Salutations to you, and to Mother (Mrs. Selwyn).

We the people of the places to which you first came still retain our affection for you both.

Our not seeing you occasions us grief, because there will be no seeing you again.

Sire, great is our affection for you both, who are now being lost amongst us. How can it be helped, in consequence of the word of the Great One, the Queen?

Sire, our thought with regard to you is, that you are like the poor man's lamb taken away by the rich man.

Go, Sire, may God preserve you both. May He also provide a man to take your place of equal powers with yourself.

Go, Sire; we shall no more see each other in the body. Such is the nature of this short life, to sunder our bodies; but in a little while, when we shall meet in the assembly of Saints, we shall see each other face to face, one fold, under one Shepherd.

This is our lament for you in few words:

On the day of the Bishop's departure, after a celebration of Holy Communion, in which many participated, his carriage was drawn by stalwart Maories to the wharf, where he went on board for Sydney, thousands watching as the "Hero" steamed slowly