SOUTHERN CROSS WRECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 10

SOUTHERN CROSS WRECK

QUESTION OF REPLACEMENT

DECISION NOT YET REACHED

Decisions regarding the replacing of tho wrecked mission vessel Southern Cross must "rest ultimately with the supporters of the Melanesian Mission in England, according to Mr. H. S. N. Robinson, secretary of tho mission, who returned to Auckland from Sydney by tho Marama yesterday. Mr. Robinson was in Sydney arranging for future supplies for tho work of tho mission in tho islands when the news was received of the loss of the Southern Cross.

"The vessel was a straight-out gift to the mission from supporters in England," Mr. Robinson said. "It has been decided definitely that she is to bo replaced, but whether the new vessel will be built in England or in New Zealand is a matter for tho original donors to decide." Mr. Robinson said prompt steps had been taken to guard against any possible food shortage in tho islands. On tho day when news of tho wreck was received in Sydney, the Morinda was leaving for tho New Hebrides and she was delayed to enable supplies of rico and cabin bread to be placed on board. The food supplies sent by tho Southern Cross and lost in the wreck were then duplicated and would bo transported to tho islands by tho Mataram, which would leave Sydney on November 30. The principal difficulty in tho mission field would bo tho transport of natives from tho mission schools to their own islands.