6. Conclusion.

It is, however, with the conduct of the General Synod, and the position taken up by that body, that I have mainly to do. And, upon a consideration of the whole matter, I conceive that the page 31 following points are clearly established:—1. That the Constitution of the Church in New Zealand contains a provision for the appointment of Bishops, which has always been held in this country to apply to appointments as well to new, as to old, Sees. 2. That this provision makes the sanction, or confirmation, of the General Synod, or of the majority of the Standing Committees of the several Dioceses of the Province, essential to the validity of every such appointment. 3. That the General Synod never requested, or authorised the Bishop of New Zealand, or any one else, to take any step towards the selection of a clergyman to fill the See of Dunedin. 4. That the General Synod has consistently held, in three successive triennial Sessions, that the fact of your Lordship having by some means attained per saltum, though without fault of your own, to the final act of consecration, cannot possibly deprive the General Synod of its constitutional right of confirmation. 5. That the General Synod having, in the exercise of its judgment and discretion, determined to withhold this confirmation in your Lordship's case, and having deliberately placed the administration of the Diocese of Dunedin in charge of the Bishop of Christchurch until a day to be named by the Standing Commission on that behalf, and the Standing Commission having, accordingly, named the day on which Bishop Nevill was consecrated to that See, it follows that your Lordship was never rightfully Bishop of Dunedin.

If, my Lord, it were possible for you to see your way to an acknowledgement of the truth of these conclusions, a sad and mischievous controversy would be closed for ever; the peace of the Church, which "the holy martyr of Melanesia" had so much at heart, would be restored; and we in New Zealand would gladly forget the hard words that have been spoken of us, and the hard thoughts that have been entertained of us, owing to the mistakes of some of our best friends. If on the contrary, I have failed to make these points clear to you, I can only say, I have done my best; I have spoken as a sense of necessity compelled me to speak; I have perhaps made some points clear to others which were obscure before; it may be, I shall have succeeded in con- page 32 vincing others, if not yourself; at any rate, at the very least, I shall have the satisfaction of feeling, Liberavisse me animam meant.