BISHOP PATTESON

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 6

BISHOP PATTESON

ANNIVERSARY OF MARTYRDOM “SOUTHERN CROSS” TO SAIL THIS WEEK To-day is the fiftieth anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Patteson, of Melanesia. The Right Reverend John Coleridge Patteson, D.D., first Bishop of Mela- l nesia, was born in 1827, the son of the Hon. Sir John Patteson. After haring been educated at Eton and Balliol (becoming fellow of Merton in 1850), he came to New Zealand in 1855, working in conjunction with Bishop Selwyn. In 1861, he was consecrated first Bishop of Melanesia, and he epent the rest of his life cruising about the islands that comprised his diocese, working among the natives, by whom he was much beloved. He vainly tried to put a stop to th» kidnapping of Polynesians for the purpose of supplying the labour market of Queensland and other colonies, and lost his life in the attempt. Hearing that » vessel was on her way to the Santa Cruz Islands to recruit labourers, he determined to visit the group himself. He arrived at Nukapu on September 20, 1871, and, at the request of two savages, and in order to show confidence in their friendliness, got out of his own boat, and went into one of' the native canoes , in order to Jand on the island. As soon as he was out of sight, on his way over the reef to the shore, a volley of arrows was let fly" 'at the, English boat, wounding some of the sail-Olrs, and the bishop’s chaplain, who subsequentlydied. Later on, the natives on shore were seen bv those on tho bishop's vessel to turn a canoe adrift, which' was found to contain the dead, 'body of the bishop, rolled up in a mat. A small branch of coconut palm, with five knots in it, was stuck to the mat, supposed to signify that the bishop’s life’bad been taken in revenge for five lives of the natives who had most likely been shot by kidnappers. There were five wounds on his body. After many years it was discovered that the unfortunate bishop had been clubbed to death in a hut, the assassins being. later banished by the islanders. Bishop Selwyn (John) erected it cross to his memory at Nukapu, in 1884.

As a result of the special appeal made by the New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions, the sailing of the mission steamer Southern Cross this week has been assured.

•Less than a month ago it appeared that the steamer would not he able to sail/ owing to a debt of some £5OOO or £6009. This had been caused by extensive repairs to the, vessel, the fact that last year she had to make an additional journey owing to. an outbreak of influenza on board, and |to the increase in the price of stores, which had' tx> be taken to the missionaries and teachers. Dr. A. W. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, brought the matter before the Bench of Bishops, and pointed out that a prompt and special effort would have to be made if the Southern Cross was to be" dispatched. As a result, the Board of Missions decided to malto”a special appeal throughout New Zealand, Dr. Averill and the secretary of the board drawing up an appeal circular, which was sent to every parish in the Dominion. Upon his return, from Wellington, .the bishop issued a further appeal to all the clergy in th© diocese.X The response has been most gratifying The receipt of con- ' tributions, amounting to £5690, has been announced by the Board of Missions, and. some returns are still to come in. Dr. Averill stated on Friday that he expected the total to reach £7OOO or £BOOO, seeing that the Auckland diocese would raise £2OOO and the Waiapu diocese £l9OO. The Southern Cross will therefore sail this week.