BABY BORN ON LINER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 51, 9 December 1948, Page 4

BABY BORN ON LINER

MOTHER AND CHILD WELL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. The liner Aorangi had one extra passenger aboard when she berthed at Auckland to-day. She was Marion Mavis Stephenson, daughter of Mrs T. Stephenson, of Rockhampton, Queensland. She wae born on the ship on November 22 when the vessel was on her way from Vancouver to Honolulu. Her birth was premature, and although the child weighed only five pounds when the ship reached Auckland, she and her mother were in good health. Mr Stephenson, an American returned serviceman, his wife, and 18-months-old son are on their Avay back to Australia to settle. They have been living in Oregon, where Mr Stephenson was working as a sawmiller. He said that the second birth was expected to occur in Australia, where he and Mrs Stephenson were married. The ship’s surgeon (Dr. R. G. Waddy) and a stewardess attended at the birth when an urgent call was received shortly after 8 o’clock at night. The mother and child have since been in the ship’s hospital. Mr Stephenson said they could not have received better treatment anywhere. News of the birth coon spread through the ship, and passengers responded when a collection was taken. The baby was presented with a silver spoon, a silver serviette ring, and a sum of money.

As a fitting climax the christening ceremony was performed in the lounge by the Bishop of Armidale (the Right Rev. J. S. Moyes) who was: on his way back to Australia after attending the Lambeth conference.