CO885-(2-3) — Page 520

Aldu

A 19.

November 1872.

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CONFIDENTIAL.

Memorandum on a Draft Colonial Dioceses and Clergy Bill.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

C.O.885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

THE Bill now submitted leaves wholly untouched the status of Colonial Bishops in their respective Dioceses, and confines itself to-

1. Enabling the Queen to revoke Letters-Patent creating Dioceses and Archdeaconries in the Colonies; and,

2. Establishing the status in England of Priests and Deacons ordained by Bishops other than Bishops of English Dioceses.

As to the first point.

1. Letters-Patent creating Dioceses in Crown Colonies can be revoked by Letters-Patent or Order

in Council. This has been effected in the cases of Hong Kong and Mauritius.

2. Such Letters-Patent, if issued by the Queen without the authority of Parliament in Colonies having representative legislatures, are assumed, for

the purpose at least of creating dioceses, to be invalid according to the decision of the Privy Council in the Bishop of Natal's case.

3. But such Letters-Patent if issued in such Colonies under authority of Parliament, or if sub- sequently recognized by local legislation, are valid, and cannot be revoked without Parliamentary sanction.

4. In one or more of these Colonies, however, the Church has been disestablished, or is in course of disestablishment, and other changes are taking place which render it expedient that the Letters-Patent should be revoked.

By the first section of the Bill, which has been approved by the Law Officers, power is given to the Queen to effect such revocation.

As to the second point.

The following statement, which was prepared by

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