MELANESIAN MISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 8

MELANESIAN MISSION.

NEW BISHOP CONSECRATED. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. AUCKLAND, Thursday. Yesterday the Rev. Walter Huber Baddelev, until lately vicar of South Bank, Yorkshire, was consecrated as Bishop of Melanesia. St. Mary s Cathedral was crowded, among those present being nearly 80 bishops and After the procession the Epistle was read by Dr. E. A. Anderson, formerly Bishop of Itiverina, and the Gospel by the Bishop of Christchurch, the Bt. Rev. C. West-Watson. The sermon was preached by Canon T. C. Cullwick, of Dcnnevij'ko, formerly Archdeacon of Melanesia, whose service in the islands dates hack to 45 years ago. After a hymn the archbishop seated himself in a chair before the altar and the Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. H. W. Williams, and Bishop Anderson presented to him “ this godly and well-learned man to be ordained and consecrated bishop." The mandate for the consecration was read by the chancellor and the bishop-elect took the oath of canonical obedience 'to the Archbishop of New Zealand and his successors.

The Bishop of Waikato, the R't. Rev. C. A. Chcrrington, led the congregation in the Litany, after which the Archbishop put to the bishop-clect a number of prescribed questions. The bishop-elec!, was escorted'to the vestry. When he returned wearing the full episcopal habit, the “ Ycni Creator” was sung, and after a prayer life archbishop and bishops laid their hands upon his head as ho knelt. The archbishop handed the new bishop the Bible, hung the gold Pectoral cross about his neck, and placed the episcopal ring upon his linger and the pastoral staff in his hand. After the. service the bishops and clergy were the guests of friends of the mission at an informal luncheon at Blsliopscourt.

WRECKED SOUTHERN CROSS. CREW TO GO TO SYDNEY. AUCKLAND, Thursday. News has been received of the intention of Captain A. M. Stanton, the master of the wrecked mission vessel Southern Cross, to go wilh I lie ship’s personnel to Sydney. Probably Captan Stanton and Hie native crew will continue from Sydney lo the Solomons and Hie other European members of the personnel will come, lo Auckland. Mr Wilson, a resident of Aneityum, will recover the safe of tho Southern Cross. Although a special appeal in England for £SOOO has met with a ready response apparently no decision concerning dhe building of a new vessel has yet been made. An appeal for funds lias also been launched in Australia, hut nothing has so far been done in New Zealand. WRECKED VESSEL’S CREW. CAPTAIN STANTON’S PLANS. HAS AN INQUIRY BEEN HELD? (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The Melanesian Mission Board was advised to-day by Captain Stanton, that he lias abandoned Hie idea of chartering a vessel at Vila, and of taking Hie native crew of the Southern Cross lo the Solomons. Tho whole complement of the wrecked vessel will return to Sydney by the ship La l’crousc.

The secretary of the board said Captain Stanton would probably go from Sydney to the Solomon's in charge of the native crew, and the European members would return to Auckland at the llrst opportunity. The statement that private advice has been received lo the effect that a nautical inquiry had been held into the loss of the, Southern Cross, and the captain and ollicers exoneruled is uncoil lli’incd. The Mission Board oil Friday asked the customs collector at Vila, if an inquiry was to he held, and if so for a copy of the proceedings. No reply has been received, nor lias Captain Stanton menlioney anything regarding an inquiry.