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Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1892, Page 8

The old Melanesian Mission barquentine Southern Cross, which is being dispensed with by the Mission authorities, has just been thoroughly surveyed in dry dock in this port, and the excellent condition of her timbers after many years' service bears gratifying testimony to the unsurpassed value of New Zealand woode for shipbuilding purposes For the last seventeen years the Southern Cross has been continuously at work amongst the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands, but of late years the mission work so largely increased that a more suitable vessel became a necessity, and a much largor and more powerful vessol is now on her way from the Old Country to take up tho work of the Mission. Before passing the old ship out of commission, she was banded over to Mr W. H. Brown for a complete and exhaustive survey, in the Auckland Graving Dock. She shows no signs of any note of the hardships and storms of seventeen years. Inside her hull portions of tho lining have boen removed for the purpose of complete examination, and yesterday afternoon the frames, sternpost, breast-hooks, etc., were borod in the presence of a number of gentleraoa interested in shipping. The vessel was found to be practically as sound and staunch as when launched, proving very clearly that a wellbuilt, well kept New Zealand built vessel is second to none in durability and strength. Tho vessel was built hero in 1874, of kauri, with pohutukawa framing.