Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail, The, 14 October 1908

18   The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail for October 14, 1908

ST. JOHN’S, NAPIER.

The Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Waiapu.

“Perchance it will sometimes be profitable to recall these things to mind.”

THE citizens of Napier are justly proud of their Cathedral. It is a fine building, and round it cling memories and associations which endear it to all church people, and cause it to be regarded with feelings of affection by even those who do not belong to the Anglican Church. Nowadays, the younger generation are perhaps rather prone to take the privileges they enjoy as matters of fact, and do not pay sufficient honour to those brave souls who faced dangers, and sufferings, and smoothed the way for those that came after. True they did not work in the hope of reward. They realised the truth of Stevenson’s words, “The true success is to labour.” They worked for the love of it, and therefore the results of their labour were all the nobler. But their self-abnegation does not lighten the debt we owe them. Rather it makes it greater. The history of St. John’s is a typical record of the self-denial, perseverance, and courage which stamped the early settlers of New Zealand. They faced perils and privations with a heroism which must command our admiration, and their achievements place us under an obligation we can never repay. Our only means of honouring their memories is to keep them green, and see that when the monuments of their work are lauded, the workers are not forgotten.

In compiling a history of the parish no one is better fitted for the task than Mr. J.B. Fielder, who has been in continual office as vestryman and churchwarden of the parish since July 13th, 1866, diocesan secretary and treasurer since October 30th, 1876, and registrar since January 10th, 1884. This may surely be regarded as a record. Mr. Fielder has written a most comprehensive history of the diocese, and from it we have taken the account of the march of events in the parish which is here given. We are also indebted to him for many of the photographs – some of which are unique – with which the article is illustrated.

As in so many other places in the North Island, the beginnings of Church life in Napier are closely connected with the name of Bishop Selwyn. At the first sale of Napier town lands, held on April 5th, 1855, this great churchman, with his usual foresight and acumen, purchased land on Napier-terrace, which now forms part of the “Hawke’s Bay Trust,” as an endowment for Church purposes. In March, 1859, another endowment was started by the early settlers, who contributed in cattle and sheep, when they were not able to give in money, and this was brought to a successful issue by the late Arch. Samuel Williams, of Te Aute. These and other endowments, of which the Archdeacon was primarily the originator, are now the sources from which the clergy of the diocese, both European and native, derive grants in aid of their stipends; grants, but for which the sparsely-settled and poorer parts of the diocese would be very badly off.

When dealing with the early history of Napier, we must remember that up to the year 1868 the provincial district of Hawke’s Bay formed part of the Diocese of Wellington.

The first indication we have of the efforts of the early Anglicans in Napier in erecting a house of worship was in November, 1858, when the first subscription list raising funds for this purpose was published. On February fourth of the following year, the indefatigable Bishop Selwyn arrived in Napier, having come overland by way of the coast, and he held divine service on the following Sunday in the only suitable building in the township, the Government school, which then stood at the corner of Tennyson and Hastings streets, afterwards known as Newton’s corner. Here all meetings of the little settlement were held, and it was not a palatial structure by any means. The Roman Catholics were ahead of other denominations in building a place of worship in Napier, and in the early part of March, 1859, a church was opened in Shakespeare-road by that good old priest, the Rev. Father Regnier [Reignier]. A month later we find in the Hawke’s Bay “Herald” an advertisement signed by H.S. Tiffen, chairman of church committee, offering a £10 premium for the best plans and specifications for an Episcopalian church, to seat two-hundred and fifty people, the cost not to exceed £500.

As there was no ordained clergyman in the little township at that time, services were held in the schoolroom by Captain Newman and Mr. William Marshall. It was not till June of the year 1859 that the Rev. Harry Woodford St. Hill arrived in Napier to take charge of the district, which then extended to Meeanee and Clive. He held his first service in the Government school on the morning of Sunday, June 26th. The Rev. Peter Barclay, the Presbyterian minister, who had landed in Napier only a short while before Mr. St. Hill, held service in the same building on the evening, and they continued alternate services till their respective churches were erected. Owing to lack of funds, Mr. St. Hill’s congregations was unable to proceed with the building of the proposed

Photo captions –

THE LATE BISHOP SELWYN.

THE LATE REV. W. MARSHALL,
Incumbent of Havelock Parish, who, as a layman, held services in the old School, Napier, fifty years ago.

THE LATE REV. J. TOWNSHEND.
Vicar of the Parish from 1867 to 1877.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH AND VICARAGE IN 1862.

The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail for October 14, 1908   19

ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL, NAPIER

INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL.
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.

20      The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail for October 14, 1908

church as soon as they would have liked, and the services were continued in the school for some time.

The present generation has little or no idea of the great hardships these hardy pioneers had to contend with even for an existence, and when we consider the wonders they accomplished in the face of what would now be looked upon by many as unsurmountable obstacles, we must feel thankful that New Zealand was colonised by such intrepid spirits. There were no roads or bridges in those far off days, and communication with the outside world was both difficult and spasmodic. English mails reached New Zealand with news three months old, and even from Auckland and Wellington the mails only arrived twice, or perhaps three times, a month. Sugar was sixpence a pound, the two pound loaf cost eight-pence, and other provisions were dear in proportion. Still, in spite of it all, money was always found for worthy objects, and those who could not give in cash gave in kind. There were many relatives of cheerful Mark Tapley in Napier in those stirring times, and nearly everybody seemed happy and contented. Napier was vastly different from the pretty seaside town we know to-day. There were no buildings at all between Tennyson and Emerson streets, and to obtain access from on thoroughfare to another, Mr. J. B. Brathwaite, the manager of the Union Bank, which was situated in Emerson-street, where the shops of White, the basketmaker, and McDougall the bookseller, are now, had to make a cause way to get across when the tide was in.

On December 20, in the year Mr St. Hill arrived, a meeting of church members was held in the schoolroom, Mr J. B. Brathwaite presiding, and the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Abraham) being among those present. At the suggestion of his Lordship, the meeting gave a guarantee for the payment of a stipend of £200 per annum to their minister, to provide him with a house, and an allowance for a horse to travel about the districts of Meeanee and Clive, such guarantees being for three years. The Bishop then undertook to obtain the services of a clergyman, Mr. St. Hill having in the meantime resigned his office. At this meeting the following committee was appointed to manage the church, procure a site, and proceed with the erection of a building: Messrs Triphook, Brathwaite, Lyndon, T. Edwards, T.R. Newton, H.B. Sealy, M. Fitzgerald, and Mr J.B. Ferguson to represent Clive. Of this worthy band Mr Brathwaite is the only survivor, and he is still living in Napier. Three days later the committee (who evidently did not believe in wasting time) met, and considered various sites. Several meetings were necessary before a decision could be made, but finally the committee chose the land upon which the vicarage now stands, and decided to purchase it from Mr. James Anderson, on condition that access to the property should be given from Tennyson-street. This was the origin of “Church Lane.” There was a small house on the place, which was put in repair, and used as a vicarage. The late Mr. Boufield prepared a plan for a church, and tenders were called, but the price proved beyond the means available. An alteration was made in the plans, providing for a building 40ft by 23ft, and a 14ft stud, and tenders were again called. Messrs Barry and McSweeney were the successful tenderers at £460, and after considerable delay the church people had the satisfaction of seeing their labours rewarded with what was at the time a very fine building.

The Rev. H.W. St. Hill again took charge of Napier in May, 1861, and in the following year we find the church members at a meeting held on June 24, and presided over by Mr. J. Wilkinson, adopting a petition requesting that Napier should be constituted a parish. The necessary permission been obtained, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Wellington appointed Mr. T.D. Triphook churchwarden, and at a meeting on October 18th of the same year, at which he presided, he announced that Napier had been constituted a parish, with boundaries extending to Clive. The following comprised the first vestry: Messrs. T.D. Triphook and T.A. Bridge, churchwardens; Colonel A.H. Russell, Messrs. J. Wilkinson, S.G. Brandon, and T. King, vestrymen: Messrs. William Marshall, Brook Taylor, and H.S. Tiffen were appointed nominators. The consecration of the new building as the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, was performed by Bishop Abraham, of Wellington, on February 1, 1863. Mrs. Abraham presented the reading desk, and Mr. St. Hill the alter cloth, from Mrs. St. Hill and friends in England. Four months later Mr. St. Hill again resigned, and the Bishop of Wellington undertook the services of the parish for a period of three months. Mr. St. Hill subsequently took temporary charge pending the arrival of the Rev. Dr. Lemuel Saywell, of Sutton, Isle of Ely, who had been nominated to the incumbency. Mr. Saywell and his wife and family arrived in October, 1864, and shortly after the vicarage was enlarged. All this time of course Napier was growing slowly but surely, and an increased church roll necessitated the provision of more accommodation. It was decided to enlarge the building, and Mr. Charles Mogridge’s tender of £411 was accepted for the work. This was at the end of the year 1864. Three years later Mr. Saywell resigned his cure. The Right Rev. Dr. William Williams, who had removed to Napier from Poverty Bay with his family owing to the native troubles, took charge of the parish during the vacancy, and on the first of November, 1867, just six months after Mr. Saywell’s resignation, the nominators, Messrs Tiffen, Brandon and Brathwaite, nominated the Rev. John Townshend, who was then in charge of the country district near Napier. The Bishop of Wellington approved, and Mr. Townshend was inducted on the first day of December.

The next important incident in the history of the parish occurred in October of the year 1868, when, at the meeting of the General Synod, which was held in Auckland, the Hawke’s Bay part of the Diocese of Wellington was incorporated into the Diocese of Waiapu, and the Bishop constituted the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, Napier, as the Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese, with Napier as the headquarters of the See of Waiapu.

Then followed a period of quiet progress, and in April, 1873, we find the parishioners purchasing town sections 130, 131, and 132, Napier, from the Hon. Robert Hart, of Wellington for £300, and at the same meeting they decided to enlarge the church by another 100 sittings, thus giving accommodation to over 500 sittings. An interesting sidelight on the progress of the parish is also thrown by the fact that authority was given to make provision for a pipe organ, which arrived from Messrs. Hill and Son, London, in the following year. When it was installed, “Hymns Ancient and Modern” was substituted for the “New Zealand Hymnal,” and Mr. Hayden Flood was appointed organist and choirmaster.

Such was the increase of work in the parish, that in July, 1875, the parishioners decided that the vicar needed assistance, and the Rev. Samuel Robinson, of the Diocese of Down, Ireland,

Photo captions –

THE LATE MR. H.S. TIFFEN,
A munificent benefactor of the Parish.

MR. J.B. FIELDER,
Who has been vestryman and churchwarden of St. John’s for over 42 years.

Mr. J.B. BRATHWAITE,
The only survivor of the original members of the church committee.

THE LATE BISHOP WILLIAMS,
First Bishop of Waiapu.

DR E.C. STUART,
Second Bishop of Waiapu.

DR W.L. WILLIAMS,
Present Bishop of the Diocese.

The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail for October 14, 1908   21

MEMORIAL WINDOW TO BISHOP WILLIAM WILLIAMS IN NORTH-EAST CHAPEL.

THE ALTAR AND EAST WINDOW.

THE MAGNIFICENT ORGAN INSTALLED LAST YEAR.

THE BEAUTIFUL FONT ERECTED IN 1893.

ST. JOHN’S NAPIER.

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.

22   The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail for October 14, 1908

was appointed to the new office. Mr. Robinson commenced his duties on New Years Day, 1876. Gas was laid on to the church and vicarage during this financial year, and a scheme was propounded by the Bishop for the church extension in Napier by the erection of a Chapel of Ease on the church land on Napier-terrace, but owing to certain unhappy differences in the parish concerning the curate, and other matters, the scheme fell through, but it gives us a very clear indication of the growth of the place.

It was during this same year that the people of the diocese, and, in fact, church people generally, received a great shock by the news that the dear old Bishop was laid aside by a severe illness which necessitated his resignation. Considerable difficulty was found in appointing a successor. The Ven. Archdeacon W.L. Williams, son of the Bishop, declined the Bishopric, and so did the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, of Timaru and Westland. Eventually the Rev. E.C. Stuart, formerly organising secretary of the C.M.S., was appointed, and at the end of the year 1877 he was consecrated. Shortly after this the death occurred of Bishop Williams, an event which was deeply mourned.

The Synod of 1876 authorised the division of the parish of St. John’s into two, as it had grown so considerably, but this was not carried out owing to the differences previously referred to. The Rev. John Townshend sent in his resignation as from February, 1877, and the Rev. Samuel Robinson, who had also resigned, left Napier. During the time the cure was vacant, the Revs. St. Hill, Johnstone, G.M. D’Arcy Irvine and John Spear took the services, pending the appointment of a new vicar, which was not made till the following year. The choice fell on the Rev. De Berdt Hovell, of Prebbleton, Christchurch, and it proved a singularly happy one. The new vicar was inducted into the cure by the Bishop on July 4, 1878, and we now enter upon a period of rest and contentment, after the long vacancy, although the clergymen who had been temporarily in charge had served the parish well. Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Hovell, steps were taken for the erection of St. John’s schoolroom on the land that had been recently purchased from Mr. Robert Hart, in Browning-street, at a cost exceeding £700.

With the passing of years, and under the charge of the new vicar, the affairs of St. John’s progressed apace. In 1880 a further enlargement of the church was found necessary, and the sum of £700 was spent on erecting a new chancel and organ chamber, the work being carried out by Messrs David Glendenning and Joshua Bennett. The new portion was consecrated in July of the next year.

It was also found that the work of the parish had increased to such an extent that it was imperative to provide for the spiritual wants of the people at the Port, and outlying district. Mr. Walter Welsh, who had lately arrived with his wife from Home, was appointed lay assistant, and subscriptions were started for the erection of a church, the site for which was purchased in 1881.

Shortly afterwards the Rev. Charles Lawrence Tuke, of St. John’s College, Auckland, was appointed curate assistant to Mr. Hovell, and took charge of the southern portion of the parish, holding services in the Lutheran Church, off Hastings-street.

When referring to this period of the Cathedral’s history, one must not omit to recall the animated discussion which arose over the proposal at the annual meeting of July, 1881, to robe the choir (to which boys had been added a few months before) in cassocks and surplices. Such a departure was not viewed favourably by some of the members, but it was eventually carried by 50 votes to 3.

The following year was noted for the fact that the incumbent and Mr. Tuke began to give religious instruction in the Napier District School, with the consent of the school committee, two days in the week, after school hours. Classes were also held at the Port by Mr. Welsh and at Gisborne with much success.

The extension of Church work in Napier was very marked during the year 1883. The new church at Port Ahuriri was consecrated by the Bishop on August 31st, and dedicated to St. Andrew, with the Rev. Walter Welsh (who had been ordained deacon at the end of the previous year) in charge of the new parochial district, which was detached from Napier during the Synod of 1883. The Rev. C.L. Tuke was admitted to Priest’s orders in December, 1882, and inducted as incumbent of Taradale, his place in Napier filled by Mr. Joshua Parkinson as lay assistant. Mr. Parkinson and his wife had lately arrived from England.

On the second of October, 1884, occurred another of those incidents which serve as mile stones in the steady progress of the parish – the consecration of St. Augustine’s, Napier South, which had been erected mainly through the assistance granted from the Foster Trust, which was formed from the estate left that year by Mrs. Robert Foster.

We now come to the scheme which resulted in the present handsome building of which Napier people are justly proud. It was on December 17, 1885 that Mr. Hovell first brought before the vestry his proposal for the building of a parish church and cathedral of the diocese, in brick and stone, on the land acquired from the Hon. Robt. Hart in Browning-street and Church-lane. It was keenly taken up, Mr. Mountfort of Christchurch, was commissioned to prepare plans, and after due consideration tenders were called on these plans for various works in connection with the building, that of Messrs. Carmichael and Sons being accepted in July, 1886. On September 29th of the same year, the foundation stones of the main building and the North East Chapel were laid by the Bishop, the ceremony being a most impressive one and attended by a large concourse of people of all denominations.

During the progress of the building the vicar was continuously on the spot, although a clerk of works was employed, and any bad or indifferent work or material was sure to be detected by his eagle eye, and rejected. It was an anxious time for him and his churchwardens and

Continued on page 41.

Photo captions –

NAPIER IN THE YEAR 1864.
No. 1. The old Masonic Hotel; No. 2 site of the old schoolhouse at the corner of Hastings and Tennyson streets; No. 3. St. John’s.

MR. FRED W. WILLIAMS.
Churchwarden of St. John’s.

THE LATE CANON ST. HILL,
First Incumbent of the Parish.

DEAN HOVELL,
The revered Vicar of St. John’s for twenty-seven years.

CANON MAYNE,
Present Incumbent of the Parish, inducted 1906.

The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail October 14, 1908   41

ST. JOHN’S NAPIER.

Continued from page 22

vestrymen, who at the time were as follows: Messrs. H.A. Banner and J.B. Fielder, churchwardens; Messrs, W. Ellison, P.A.F. Birch, T.J. Brassey, H. Owen, M.S. Bell, F.W. Williams, J. Stephens, E.P. Mountfort, and N. Heath, vestrymen. They took the keenest interest in the work, and particularly in the raising of the necessary funds. Mr H.S. Tiffen, the great benefactor of the parish, had donated the handsome sum of £3000, and liberal assistance was given by the trustees of the Foster Fund, the S.P.G. and S.P.C.K. The liberality of the Church people of Napier was most commendable in assisting Mr. Hovell to realise his praiseworthy scheme of giving the diocese such a noble building, but it is to be regretted that the efforts that were made to secure funds for its completion were not successful as anticipated to open it free of debt. The Church people of Napier were, however, imbued with a fine spirit of self-reliance and they overcame most of the difficulties before the building was consecrated.

The great epoch in the history of the parish of St. John the Evangelist, and in that of the diocese, had now arrived, and those who look back on those brave days feel how much they owe to the gifted vicar who was at the head of affairs during a very trying time. The consecration of the building as the cathedral church of the diocese was impressively performed on December 20th, 1888, by the Bishop, who, in his address to the Synod which met that month, said: “Need I say that a prevailing feeling in my mind during the last few months has been the longing desire to see new Cathedral, of whose progress towards completion I have been receiving regular reports. Its erection has  been constantly a subject of interest to those who have sought information about the diocese, and some valuable gifts had been presented by friends in token of their sympathy with the undertaking. It is indeed with much thankfulness that I view the successful completion of so great a work, and I heartily congratulate the incumbent of St. John’s, the Rev De Berdt Hovell, and the zealous churchmen of Napier, who have co-operated with him on the result of their labours.”

The expenditure on the site, building, and fittings to that date was £9,533, with liabilities amounting to £1,675. The extreme length of the cathedral is 180 feet, breadth 57 feet, height 65 feet. It has seating accommodation for over 1,200 persons. The chancel and organ chamber of the old building were given to St. Augustine’s, and greatly improved that rising church. Some of the transept windows were presented to St. Paul’s, Wairoa, and the remainder of the building was sold, converted into a dwelling house, and erected in Harvey-road, Napier.

In the year 1899, [1889?] the Synod passed a bill constituting a cathedral chapter, the following being the first members: Dean, the Rev. De Berdt Hovell; Canons, Ven. Archdeacons Samuel Williams, and W.L. Williams, Revs. J.E. Fox and H.W. St. Hill; lay members, Messrs. John Thornton and J.B. Fielder, who were installed at special services in the Cathedral on the 9th and 14th October, 1891.

The year 1890 was an important one for the cathedral. In April the beautiful large stained glass window presented by the widow of the late Hon. Robert Stokes, M.L.C., was, in his memory, placed in position. The subject is “Our Lord in Glory,” and the window is one of the largest and finest in the Australasian colonies. Mr Stokes had always taken a great interest in the church, and was a member of the third General Synod, when the revision of the Church constitution took place.

In the following year the indefatigable Dean Hovell had raised £1,100, which was paid off the debt on the cathedral.

Much to the regret of the people of the Diocese, the Bishop announced at the Synod of 1893, his intention of resigning, and returning to Persia, where he had previously laboured. The office was subsequently filled by the appointment of the Venerable William Leonard Williams, B.A., and he was consecrated in the cathedral on January 20th, 1895.

Dean Hovell was a man who always made a success of whatever work he took in hand, and he had that remarkable faculty which is possessed by all true leaders, of being able to inspire others with some of his own confidence and enthusiasm. A remarkable instance of this occurred in the year 1895. On Sunday, July 21st, he made a special appeal to the church people of Napier to subscribe the sum of £1,000 by that day week. A circular from the Dean to the church members was placed in the Cathedral at the morning service, and it was set out how seventeen years before there was in Napier only one church and one parsonage, with a debt of £1,800. In addition to taking over this debt the church members of Napier, during the intervening sixteen years had erected three churches, including the Cathedral, three school houses, and two parsonages – eight edifices in all – the liability of the Cathedral parish being £2,000. Great excitement prevailed in Napier during the week following the Dean’s appeal. The first donation was a cheque from a Rev. church member for £400, the second was the sum of one shilling from a poor widow, and so the list went on.

The following Sunday the Cathedral was crowded with a vast congregation, and there was no doubt about the interest or anxiety of the people in the fate of the weeks’ effort. All Napier had been talking about the great collection for a week past, and the event had caused considerable excitement. The Dean carried the donations in the large offertory dish, and deposited them on the table of the sanctuary, followed by the eyes of everybody in the Cathedral. When it was announced that the total sum collected was £1,227 0s. 2d. there was a feeling of great rejoicing. The service that morning was more than impressive, and many people were so moved that they were unable to join in the hymn of thanksgiving with which the service opened. The magnificent response to the appeal showed in a marked degree the wonderful sympathy that existed between pastor and people, and it is extremely doubtful whether any other clergyman could have carried to a successful issue such a bold and comprehensive scheme for the reduction of the debt of the parish.

The beginning of the year 1895 saw the parish suffer a great loss by the death of that munificent benefactor, Mr. Henry Stokes Tiffen, who passed away at the age of 77 years. In addition to his many gifts, Mr. Tiffen bequeathed the Parish the handsome of £1,000. Death also removed another prominent church member, in the person of Mr. Thomas Kennedy Newton, who for many years had been a member of the Synod, the standing committee, and the vestry of the parish.

There then follows a period of calm progress, during which there were no events which stand out with marked prominence, but the work of the parish went on steadily and unceasingly under the careful guidance of the Dean, who had with him a faithful band of church workers. Passing rapidly over the intervening incidents, we may mention one or two which will revive memories among those who worshipped at the Cathedral during this time. In December, 1897, the parishioners gave permission for the ladies of the choir to be robed in surplices and college caps, and it was decided that they should occupy seats with the male members of the choir in the chancel of the Cathedral. In June, 1897, a very imposing service was held in connection with the celebrations of the record reign of Queen Victoria. Two years later the boundaries of the parish were altered by the constitution of the parochial district of St. Augustine’s. The Dean never lost an opportunity of improving and beautifying his cathedral, and about this time he formulated a scheme for the ultimate filling in of the windows with stained glass, and the panels in the brickwork with appropriate subjects in alabaster or mosaics. The vestry has now obtained samples and cost of the proposed work, and any information will be gladly given to those who contemplate making any gifts towards this worthy object.

Owing to the disbanding of the Napier Naval Artillery Volunteers, it was decided to give the colours into the keeping of the Cathedral, and they were deposited in the S.E. transept on January, 7th, 1900. The officers of the corps were: Captain F. G. Smith, Lieutenants John Caughey, and O.H.M. Hovell. The last mentioned afterwards served through the South African war, and obtained a commission in the Manchester Regiment of the Imperial Army. In the same year it was decided to complete the Cathedral by the erection of the north-east chapel. The work was finished and consecrated on August 7th, 1902.

The beautiful font which now adorns the cathedral was erected in the year 1903, and it has an interesting history. About the year 1880 it was decided that the collections made at all children’s services should be placed to the credit of a font fund, and invested as collected. When they amounted to £100 an order was sent to Italy, and after some delay the font arrived. It is a replica of the famous font by Thorwaldsen, the celebrated Danish sculptor, now in the Vor Fruekirke, the Metropolitan Church of Denmark. It represents an angel kneeling down, and holding a shell. The angel, shell and pedestal are carved out one block of Carara marble, which rests on another block of marble, and the whole stands on three marble steps. It is interesting to note that many of those who contributed to the fund as children have had their own children baptised in the font. The old font was given to the Church of St. Augustine.

About this time it was found necessary, much to the regret of the parishioners, that the Dean should, for the benefit of his health, obtain leave of absence, and go away for a change. The regard of his people for him was shown in the presentation of an address and a well-filled purse of sovereigns prior to the departure of himself, Mrs. Hovell and family on a trip to England. The Rev. Wm. Lambert acted as locum tenens during the Dean’s absence. Towards the end of the year the Dean and family returned to Napier, the Dean much benefited in health, and received a most hearty welcome. At the same meeting the people bade good-bye to Mr. Lambert, who had endeared himself to them very much during his stay among them, and he received a tangible evidence of the regard in which he was held.

The purchase of a water motor for the organ, and the erection of a memorial tablet in the north-east chapel to the memory of the officers and men of the Waiapu diocese who had fallen in the South African war, were events of this year which call for notice, and in December the Cathedral benefited by the generosity of Mr. William Booth, who had visited Napier some time previously, and taken a great interest in the Cathedral. He left a handsome legacy of £500, less duty.

For some time after the return of the Dean from his trip Home, his health continued fair, but he was fully aware, from what he had been told by an eminent medical relative in London, that an insidious disease from which he had been suffering for some years would bring him to an early grave. The vestry, seeing that his health was failing, prevailed upon him to secure the services of a curate. This he did, and his work was lightened, but nothing could save him. He had a bad attack during Divine Service on Sunday, August 3rd, 1905. In the course of a few days he and Mrs. Hovell went out to Ormondville to visit Mrs. Webb, the widow of the Dean’s old friend, Canon Webb. The Dean and Mrs. Hovell went for a walk on the morning of September 4th, and returned to lunch. During the afternoon the Dean complained of not feeling well, and was assisted to bed. He had scarcely been laid down, when he peacefully expired. Thus passed away, in the prime of life, a man beloved and honoured by people of all denominations. His memory will ever remain green among those who knew him, and particularly those who were privileged to work with him, and knew him for what he was – strong, fearless, generous, and true. His twenty-seven years of service in St. John’s are practically the record of its rise from a small parish church to its present position. The funeral took place on September 7th, and it was the occasion of a remarkable expression of the respect and regard of people of all denominations in the town. Towards the end, when he knew that he must soon be cut off, the Dean was much exercised about provision being made for his widow, and is gratifying to know that his wishes were carried out to the letter. In memory of their beloved pastor, the parishioners have erected a marble tablet in the south-east transept with the following inscription: “This tablet was erected by the parishioners in loving memory of the Very Rev. De Berdt Hovell, first Dean of Waiapu, and vicar of this parish 1878-1905. Died 4th September, 1905. Age, 55. The erection of this Cathedral was due to his efforts. ‘Si monumentum requiris circumspice.’ ”

From the moneys that had been collected for Mrs. Hovell she requested that a portion be devoted to the purchase of a brass lectern. The amount was supplemented by donations from the Masonic brethren, and a very handsome lectern, a replica of that in Westminster Abbey, was purchased. It bears an inscription, in which is included a reference to the fact that the Dean was Provincial Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.

During the vacancy several clergymen had charge of the parish, and finally, on January 5th 1906, the Rev. Canon Mayne, M.A., of St. John’s, Roslyn, Dunedin, (the present incumbent), was inducted by the Bishop, and subsequently he and Mrs. Mayne were welcomed by the parishioners at a large garden party held in the grounds of Mrs. Randall.

For some time it had been felt that the organ in use was not worthy of the Cathedral, and on March 9th 1906, the vestry decided to erect a new one. Mr. J.H. Fray, the organist and choirmaster, drew up the specification, and tenders were called, the prices ranging from £1470 to £3100. The tender of Mr. J.E. Dodd, of Adelaide, South Australia, was accepted, and the instrument he supplied – the cost was £1838 – fully justified the choice. It has 65 stops, etc., and 2222 pipes, and is constructed throughout on the latest and most approved system. The organ was opened on September 10, 1907, by Dr. Bradshaw, of the Christchurch Cathedral, with a series of recitals. Mr Fray resigned his position in May of the present year, and his place was taken by Mr. Harold Gregson.

Mr. Fielder brings his history to a close with these words: “I hope it will be acceptable to my readers, and especially those who are not acquainted with the trials and troubles of the pioneers of New Zealand, and that it may give food for thought, and be an incentive to the present generation to foster the same spirit of self reliance and an object lesson to still continue in the good work. For it must be remembered that as settlement progresses in the back blocks the Gospel of peace and good-will must follow. For this purpose the clergy must accompany such progress, and financial aid must be forthcoming to allow this to be done. Many new districts in the diocese are now being opened up, and the bishop is doing his utmost to procure clergyman to take over the spiritual charge of these districts, which are as yet only sparsely populated, and without the aid of grants they will not be able to provide stipends. For this purpose I plead for aid to the funds of the Church Society from which the Standing Committee of the Diocese will be enabled to supplement the local contributions for carrying on the work of the several districts.”

A complete history of the Diocese, illustrated with a number of rare old photographs, will be published by the Brett Printing and Publishing Company early next year.