The Most Rev. Francis Redwood, S.M., D.D., Archbishop and Metropolitan of Wellington, is a son of Mr. Henry Paul Redwood, his mother being the daughter of Mr. Gilbert. He was born on the 8th of April, 1839, at Lower Hanyard, Tixall Estate, Staffordshire, England, and arrived in the Colony with his parents in 1842. His family came out among the early pioneers, under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, and after a short residence in Wellington, removed to Nelson, where they settled on the Waimca Plains. Here Francis passed his childhood until he was eleven years old, and learned the elements of education. The next four years were spent at the well-known school then conducted by the Venerable Father Garin, at Nelson, where His Grace began the study of ancient and modern languages and music. When fifteen years old he expressed a desire to enter the Church, and in order to qualify page 394 himself for holy orders, went to France to continue his studies. Here he entered the College of St. Chamond, Loire, an institution conducted by the fathers of the Society of Mary. During his course at this college he made rapid advancement, and had the honour of winning several prizes, one of which was the first prize in rhetoric for French discourses. In addition to his other works he made a diligent study of literature, and rose to the position of president of the College Literary Society, for which he wrote a number of essays in French and Latin. On leaving this college His Grace went to the South of France, to a college called Mouthel, near Hyeres, to study philosophy and divinity. After having spent some time here, he was sent to Ireland, where he taught various classical branches of education at St. Mary's College, Dundalk, until 1865, when he was raised to the priesthood. The following year was spent chiefly in Dublin in the capacity of Professor of Dogmatic Theology. He was, however, destined to remain here only a short time. Although quite a young man, his abilities were already manifest in the Church, and in 1874 he was appointed by the Holy See to the Bishopric of Wellington, New Zealand. On the 17th of March of the same year he was consecrated at St. Ann's, Spitalfields', London, by Cardinal Manning, then Archbishop of Westminster. Soon after the ceremony he sailed for the Colony. Since his arrival in Wellington he has led a busy life. His diocese is the largest in New Zealand, and for fourteen years included the whole Colony with the exception of the provinces of Otago and Auckland. Although His Grace's work consists chiefly in the care of his large district, he still finds time for preaching and writing. As a preacher he is well known throughout the Colony, and has at various times filled the important pulpits of Australia. His writings, however, are not very numerous, the greater part of them consisting of lectures, sermons, and funeral orations. He is also a contributor to Catholic periodicals. But he does not confine his energies to his own Church. On the contrary, he takes a warm interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the Colony, and is ever ready to help on any good work. Some years ago he was appointsd a member of the Senate of the New Zealand University, and still retains a seat on that body. In 1887 the Holy See conferred upon him the dignity of Archbishop. He thus enjoys the honour of being the first and only Archbishop in New Zealand.