MELANESIAN MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1643, 9 January 1913, Page 5

MELANESIAN MISSION.

' ADDEESS BY BISHOP WOOD. The Bishop of Melanesia (Dr. Wood) delivered a most interesting address on the Melanesian Mission at the Sydney Street Schoolroom last evening. He was introduced by the vicar of St. Paul s (the Kev. A. M. Johnson). The Bishop reminded his audience ot his last'meeting in Wellington, and_ of Wellington's ■ gift of a motor-boat. Ine four centres, nad , given motor-boats, anatenders were to ,be called, in .the four centres; to build them. The "Wellington people should lie especially interested, in Melanesia since their nephew; had taken up work there. Dr. . Wood then.gave a snort description ; pf his hrst .arrival in Melanesia. , Speaking of Norfolk Island lie said that when Bishpp G. A. Selwyn. found that by a clerk s error Melanesia had been included in his dio-cese-he determined- that Norfolk Island would bo, the best place .in which to tram native teachers. At* present there were about.7oo' native teachers,who were,supervised by tho white clergy. They, were trained.-at Norfolk for six to-eight years befoM they . were sent back to the. Islands. Speaking of Santa Cruz said that lie wished, some olever university man' would, come out and live in that island and learn .the language of the people, for as yet those'of the'mission had no. liiklin" of it.' The only way in which they could pick it,up was by carefully listening, to the natives', and catching a particular word, and putting it, down and so slowly forming a vocabulary. He told an amusing story of a while trader, the only one, living at Santa Cruz. He learned that two of tho native tribes wero going to fight on the next day.' The day was extremely wet and lie learned that the fight was pjstponed till tho morrow. The morrow was'a fine day and the fight Was declared to-be about to commence. The trader knew what that would mean,' and determined that if lie. could he would prevent, it.; So he took his fishing rod and went down to a stream on the opposite bank of which stood the rival tribes. The trador quietly started,fishing.between the; two foes. 'The natives watched the trader most of-the day, wondering what he was going to do and.in the evening they went, home having shed no blood-and the fight was declared off. There was only ono inland.' where the Bishop found an island chief living in real .state. It was a very peaceful tribe;' when -they, wished to- get rid.of.anyone,.instead, of murdering,him, they simply, gave him three coconuts and a canoe, and set ;him; adrift. Tho, Bishop described with amusing detail his visit to this chief. In the Solomon Islands they had juit finished their hospital and hoped to have it opened very shortly. So far there wero half a dozen women workers in the mission and they were always welcome. Tho Bishop said lie hoped that Wellington people would subscribe to tho "Southorn Cross tog," which is in future to be published in New Zealand. The -Hev. A.'M. Johnson thanked the Bishop on behalf .of those present for his interesting address. .. Dr. M'Leod and Dr. Watson—they were contrasts in size—were in the West Highlands together on a tour, 'before leaving for India. When they were crossing a loch in a boat, in company with a number of passengers, a storm came on. Ono of tho passengers was heard to say,' "Tho twa ministers should begin to pray, or we'll a' be drooned." "All, no," said a boatman'. v "The little ano can pray if he likes; but the big ano must.ink' an oar. - "