MEN OF THE SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 6

MEN OF THE SEA

THANKSGIVING DAY REMEMBRANCE IN CHURCHES Prayers of thanksgiving for seamen were said in Anglican churches throughout the Auckland Diocese yesterday. In tho morning a national seafarers service held at St. Matthew's Church was attended by officers and men of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Merchant Navy, the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps, Sea Rangers and other organisations. Also among the congregation were the deputy-mayor, Mr L. Coakley, and representatives of the Harbour Board, the Marine Department and the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners. The national service was conducted by Canon It. G. Coats, and the director of ceremonies was the port chaplain, Canon 11. K. Vickery. A special lea tare was the blessing by the Bishop of Auckland, the Jit, Rev. W. J. Simkin. of the Red, White and Blue Ensigns, and the flags of 16 shipping companies, the Harbour Board and the ex-Hoyal Navahnen s Association. Commodore YV. Jv. IJ. Dowding, naval otbeer in charge at Auckland, read the lesson. ' Taking as his text. "Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved, the preacher, the Rev E. Blackwood Moore, compared the voyage and snipwreck of St. Paul with the adventures of seafarers during the war, and stressed the necessity of all hands pulling together. He reminded the congregation of the debt that the Empire owed to the men of the sea. Making their first public appearance this year, members of the Auckland division of the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps marched to the church before the service. They were led by the Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band.

MERCHANT SEAMEN MEMORIAL DEDICATED A memorial tablet in honour of seamen who lost their lives in the Second World War was unveiled and dedicated last evening at the Mariners' Chapel in the Flying Angel Mission to Seamen in the presence of an attendance that filled the chapel. The inscription on the tablet, under the motto "Virtutae non verbis," reads: "In honour officers and men of the Merchant Navy who gave their lives to maintain the services of transport and supply during the war of 1939-1945, and to those ranks and ratings of the Royal Navy and auxiliary vessels who sacrificed their lives that the merchant fleets might keep the seas." •Appropriate lessons from the Book of Wisdom and the Gospel of St. John were read by Commander J. G. N. Hilliard, arid the tablet was unveiled by Captain H. C. Large. At the request of the chaplain of the mission, Canon H. K. Vickery. the Bishop of Auckland, the Rt. Rev. W. J. Simkin, dedicated the memorial. Speaking from the words, "God made trial of them and found them worthy for Himself," the bishop said he did not think it would be possible to find words that better described the sacrifire of those whom they were commemorating.

£200,000 FOR POWER RESULT OF NORTHLAND POLL (0,C.) KAIKOHE, Sunday A poll of ratepayers in the Hokianga and Whangaroa counties and the extreme north of Mangonui County was held on Saturday by the Bay of Islands Power Board to obtain sanction for a loan of The loan was carried by 597 votes to 14, with declaration votes still to come. When the board was constituted in 1937 the Hokianga and Whangaroa counties elected to stay out of any loan proposal for reticulation works, and consequently a loan sanctioned'in 1938 made provision for work only in the Bay of Islands county and the major portions of Mangonui. In 1941 the Hokianga and Whangaroa counties petitioned to be included in the inner area of the power district, and Saturday's loan poll will extend reticulation to these areas.

At a meeting of the board last week it was stated that if the poll were carried work could be pushed on as fast as men and materials became available.

; OBITUARY . MRS W. J. GATENBY I The death has occurred of Mrs Violet Jane Gatenby, of Auckland, who was | well known in musical circles a3 Miss • Violet Hughes. While a student at ■ Auckland University College she won ' the junior and senior Ranfurlv medals ' and graduated as a Fellow of the School of Music. She later studied singing > under the tuition of the late Mr Barry : Coney. As a mezzo-soprano Mrs Gatenby ► frequently broadcast under the name of Gwen Hughes. She was awarded the 1 gold medal in the Auckland Musical Competitions for a New Zealand song ■ in the open class and the silver medal in the mezzo-soprano class. 1 Mrs Gatenby is survived by her husband, two sons, who are both serving with the Air Force, and two daughters. MRS EMMA WRAY ; The death has occurred of Mrs Emma 1 Wray, formerly Voluntary Aid Commandant of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Red. Cross Society. Mrs Wray, who was in her 51st year, was born at Pahiatua and for the greater ! i part of her life was a keen worker in I church and patriotic activities. In 1931. : j when she took up residence in Wellington, she became a V.A.D. member ,jof the Wellington Centre of the Red Cross and w<is not-cd for licr orcanisiiif* abilitv. From 1939 to 1943 Mrs Wray was a very active officer of the Auckland Centre V.A.D., and during the last two years of that period she held the position of V.A. Commandant, eventually retiring because of ill-health. In addition to her Red Cross service. Mrs Wray i was a member of the Auckland Domestic Service Committee, the committee for the parish of St. Martin's in the Field, the Mothers' Union and the Townswomen's Guild. She is survived by her husband, two sons and one daughter. MR ALEXANDER MURRAY I (0.C.) WHAKATANE, Saturday The death has occurred at Whakatane of Mr Alexander Murray, aged SO. Born in Scotland, Mr Murray went to Dunedin with his parents in'lß74 and worked m paper mills there. After farming at Sandimont, he worked on the Tukituki station, remaining in .Uawke s Bay for over seven years. Drawing a section in the first ballot for the Opouriao estate. Mr Murrav cleared the land and built a home, re- ! ninining there for 47 years and beeom- ! "'S wo " known throughout the area ! W lion lie retired from active fannin* lie came to Whakatane to live. Ho is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. There are 17 grandchildren

MR RICHARD DONOVAN , , , PUIvEKOHE, Sunday I lie death has occurred of Mr Richard Donovan, aged 79. one of the first white children born at Bombay. He was the e.dest son of Mr and Mrs John bonoIi a "'riY, V an ! e to . New Zealand from the Old Country in the ship Bombav which arrived at Auckland in 1860. I hcv settled at Bombay, the settlement deriving its name from the vessel manv of its passengers settling there 1 Mr Donovan spent his early life in Hnwke's Hay and 011 the 1 hames goldfields He returned to Bombay 40 years ago and took over Jus father's farm. He was interested in all district activities and was a member of the school committee ror 00 years. He is survived by six sons and five daughters, 29 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. One son was killed in action on Crete.