The Henson Journals

[132]

Monday, June 13th, 1927.

We left Hexham at 11 a.m., & motored to Sunderland by way of Newcastle, arriving in time to look over the new Seaman's Institute before lunch. The various functions arranged by Mr Cutts, the Chaplain, with astonishing skill went through without hitch of any kind. Lord Londonderry spoke excellently: & there was a considerable gathering. I was pleased to notice that the large crowd in the street removed their caps at the National Anthem, and joined in the singing. We had tea with Wynne–Wilson, who again asked me to consider the case of the old man, a retired postman, who covets ordination to a perpetual diaconate. But I refused, the precedent would be too formidable. We got back to Auckland shortly after 6.30 p.m. and found that the three American ladies, Mrs Burgess and her two friends, had arrived in the course of the afternoon.

Lord Thurlow wrote cheerfully about James's chances of becoming a steward, & sent a form for him to fill up in application to the Pacific Cy.

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