NEW BISHOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 282, 28 November 1932, Page 3

NEW BISHOP.

WORK IN MELANESIA. REV. W. H. BADDELEY ARRIVES CONSECRATION THIS WEEK. The Be v. W. H. Baddeley, Bishopdesignate of Melanesia, arrived by tha? Aorangi this morning. He was met in the stream by the Kev. H. K. s Vickery, port chaplain, and on shore by Archbishop Averill. Mr. Baddeley eaid that two years ago he had been asked to take up the appointment of Assistant Bishop of Melanesia, but at that time he had not contemplated going overseas, and the Archbishop was not keen for him to leave England. Since his ordination in 1921 he had worked in the industrial districts of Middlesbrough and Leeds. "I was two days out from Vancouver when I heard the news of the loss of the Southern Cross," he said. He could not say what steps were being taken to replace the vessel. He understood that the cost of refitting the old Southern Cross would be too great for anything to be done in that direction. He had received a radio at Honolulu from England saying that the ship had been fully insured and that there would be speedy replacement. Strong Support in England.

"There is a strong body of supporters of the Mission in England," continued Mr. Baddeley. "Naturally they will be greatly disappointed at what has happened. The Mission makes a special appeal to the people at Home because it is connected with the sea. Formerly there were a number of retired admirals 011 the committee, but I think there is only one naval man now, Commander Garbett, a brother of the Bishop of Winchester." Mr. Baddeley said tihat he had been welcomed at Suva by the Bishop of Polynesia and had been handed a cheque from tlie people of Fiji towards the replacement of the Southern Cross. He had had messages of greeting from all the New Zealand bishops and from many others. The Bishop-elect has a. fine war record. He won his way from private to the rank of colonel and received the Military Cross with bar. and also the Distinguished Service Order. He will bo consecrated oil Wednesday at the.Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Parnell. It is reported from Suva that the Southern Cross has conf*letely broken "P- .