Page:Letters from New Zealand (Harper).djvu/311



Sept. 5th, 1897.

Towards the end of 1893 my Father died at Christchurch, where he lived after resignation of his episcopate of thirty-four years; the first Bishop of Christchurch; for some time sharing with Bishop Selwyn the oversight of the whole of New Zealand. He was within a few days of ninety years of age. His memory will long be revered, not only for his work, but his personal influence and character. In Diocesan and General Synod, as Primate of the Church, he shewed true statesmanship in dealing with many problems, especially those of good government in a Church free from State control, in a new country, where so much depends for its future welfare on good foundations, well laid in the first days of its history. Known, also, even in the remotest corners of the diocese, by all sorts and conditions of men, whom he met during his annual visitations, not only for unfailing courtesy and kindliness, but for a certain personal holiness, which touched them with a deep sense of true Christian life.

A stately memorial has been placed in the Cathedral; a recumbent marble figure, the work of Williamson, the Queen's Sculptor; and in the ante-chapel of