Address On New Hebrides At League Of Mothers Meeting

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 100, 21 November 1947, Page 8

Address On New Hebrides At League Of Mothers Meeting

At the last monthly meeting of the Whakatane League of Mothers Mrs Metcalfe presided over a very good attendance. Two letters were received from the Whakatane High School and Primary School thanking the League for the framed pictures of the Ten Commandments.

Mrs Armstrong gave the thought for the month “Don’t forget that the darkest hour has only sixty minutes.”

A new member, Mrs Duthie, was enrolled.

Mrs James delighted all present by singing two solos. The speaker for the day was the Rev. H. M. Bell, who gave a very interesting address on the New Hebrides. He spoke of the need for better understanding of people no matter what the colour of their skins. Mr Bell dealt principally with Tana, where he was stationed and where he is shortly returning. Tana is about 1000 miles north of Auckland and the steamer “Morinda” calls there once in six weeks. The natives are Melanesian and Polynesian and there are many dialects. The climate is pleasant in the cool season, but most unpleasant during the hot summer and there are many tropical diseases for the missionaries to contend with.

Mrs Metcalfe thanked Mr Bell for his very interesting address.