LAST FAREWELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 253, 25 October 1932, Page 5

LAST FAREWELL.

MISSION SHIP SOUTHERN CROSS. DEPARTURE FOB MELANESIA. SERVICE AT KING'S WHAUF. A crowd of about 250 persons gathered on the King's wharf this morning to farewell the Melanesia" Mission's new -Southern Cross, which left shortly after noon for the islands of Melanesia. She will probably never return to these shores. A short service was conducted by Archbishop Averill on the ship half an hour before its departure. A prayer was said for those about to depart, iiiitl then the hymn, "Let There Be Light, ,, was sung. The Archbishop, with the text, ''The isles do wait for me, and on mine arms shall be thy trust," preached a farewell sermon, in which he said that it was fitting that the ship should be given a prayerful send-off in the last stage of her journey from England to the Melanesian Islands. The Archbishop said that, although other mission ships had been similarly farewelled, Ancklanders had never yet had the opportunity of farewcHing a mission ship that was destined never to return to these shores. "The Southern Cross goes with the well wishes oi the Church in New Zealand and England,"' he said. "The islands are now waiting for her, and we, with the help of God, speed her on her way, and hope that she will be a means of bringing light to them that are in darkness—a harbinger of light. In the name of the Church, and this province, farewell, and God lie with you." Archdeacons Hawkins am! Simpkins, the latter carrying the irolden cross, and the Rev. C. A. B. Watson were also present at the service.

The Southern Cross was gaily decorated with flags for the o(—si«ion of her departure, and when she drew out cheers followed her.