POET LAUREATE WRITES HYMN FOR N.Z. SERVICE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27753, 2 September 1955, Page 10

POET LAUREATE WRITES HYMN FOR N.Z. SERVICE

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER, September 1. When the foundation stone of St. John's Cathedral, Napier, is laid on October 12, 1955, the service will inelude a hymn the words of which have been specially written fox* the occasion by the Poet Laureate, John Masefield. A letter asking whether he would consider the composition of verses to mark the occasion was sent to the Poet Laureate some time ago by the Bishop of Waiapu (the Rt. Rev. N. A. John Masefield replied that he would be delighted to “make some lines.” In a second letter, Bishop Lesser sent a photograph of Napier, showing the cathedral destroyed by the earth-

quake of 1931, and drawings of the new cathedral, a description of its site, its dedication to St. John the Evangelist, and details of arrangements for the service on October 12, when the foundation stone will be laid by the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie).

Bishop Lesser has now received from Mr Masefield a draft of the hymn, consisting of five verses of four lines each. It is probable that the words will be sung to the tune of the “Old Hundredth.”

John Masefield’s final script of the verses is now*awaited. Two friends of Mr Masefield live in New Zealand —Mrs Donaldson, of Paeroa, and Sister Phyllis Simmonds, of Masterton—and invitations to attend the service on October 12 have been sent to them.