MELANESIAN MISSION

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 11

MELANESIAN MISSION

PURCHASE OF STORES. READY RESPONSE TO APPEAL. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 21. Through the generosity of supporters of the Melanesian Mission in England, £2500 has been made available for the purchase of stores lost in the wreck of the Southern Cross and for emergency transport for their distribution around the mission stations. The money has been remitted to the Auckland office of the mission and is the first response to an appeal for £5OOO for this purpose launched by the Archbishop of York. The mission authorities have arranged for the purchase of stores in Sydney and for their carriage to the central point in the Islands by one of the Burns Philp steamers. The Administrator of Solomon Islands has been asked to make arrangements for the chartering of local craft for taking the goods from the central point chosen to the stations, and the mission is at present awaiting advice from him concerning his decisions in the matter. Tenders for the purchase of the old Southern Cross which is at present lying In the stream at Auckland closed to-day. Seven offers have been received and these will be considered by the Mission Board. The replacement of the wrecked Southern Cross rests with the English Committee of the Mission, but no advice has yet been received whether the committoe will have a new vessel built or purchase a suitable boat.