JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON.
MELANESIA'S FIRST BISHOP. MITtDEHED FIFTY YEARS AOO. Fifty years ago to-day John Coleridge PattPßon, D.D., the lirst missionary of Melanesia, u»s treacherously murdered by the natives of Nukapu, in the Si' ita Cruz Group. The tragedy occur- , red on September 20, 1871, and the news did not reach New Zealand until the ' mission boat .Southern Cross (the mission boat has been called Southern Cross lor many years, and the present steamer- !' vaclit is the successor of several others) r brought it to Auckland at the end of c October. The murder caused a profound sensation in New Zealand. I Bishop Patteeon was 44 years of age " when he was killed, mid was the son of Sir John Coleridge I'atteson. He was f a fellow of Milium College, Oxford, and '' came out to New Zealand to take up ] missionary work here. In 1861, ten f years before lie was murdered, he was S lon sec rated Bishop of .Melanesia, in old ; St. Paul's Church. The place where he ; died is now marked by the tiny church, and on the shore at Nukapu. is a largo ' cross of copper and iron, facing the settin" sun. These two erections are memo- ' riafs to Bishop Pattcson, who was one victim of the Nukapu Islanders, that 1 have always held a reputation for treachery. Services to commemorate the m.irtyr- ! dom of Bishop Pattcson are being held to-day in St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell. 3 Holy Communion was celebrated at 7 and " 10.30 o'clock this morning and 4.30 this ? afternoon there will be a service for " children, who will be addressed by the " Rev. (!. J\. Moir. A service will be held 1 at 7.30 this evening, when Dr. A. W. 1 Averill. Anglican Bishop of Auckland, ' will officiate, and the Ilev. Canon Wil- ■ Hams will preach. The music will be * provided by the combined Auckland ' choirs. SOUTHERN GROSS TO SAIL. ■> } GOOD RESPONSE TO MJsWIOX - APPEAL. At the memorial service to Bishop Patteson in the Cathedral, Parnell, this evening a cheque for about £2500 will L %c handed to Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop j of Auckland. This is the result of the [ I appeal for funds for the Melanesian Mis,ision throughout the Auckland province. I The actual sujn raised in response to the l J appeal U not exactly known yet. but it ,! is probably much larger than this, for J the campaign f-ir funds has been carried l out all over t: •■• Dominion, but it is now , certain that the sum collected will be • f sufficient to wipe off the debt of the missionNow the funds of the mission have , been so much increased the Southern Cross will sail for the Islands in the near future, probably to-morrow. Miss D. j Flux, going as a nurse to the Siota misf sion station, will be a passenger, and Mr. G. Heath is going to the Islands as a . mechanic. Mr. f>. Tarr. cinema operator, , goes on a visit; and Rev. J. L. A. Kayll travels as chaplain.
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Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 224, 20 September 1921, Page 2
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502JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON. Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 224, 20 September 1921, Page 2
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