NORTH ISLAND CHINESE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND CHINESE.

(By Telegraph.—Speoial Correspondent,) Wanganui, July i. Considerable work is now Deing done by tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand among tho Chinese of the North Island. Tho Rqv. A. Don, of Palmerston, who is working amongst those Chinese who live on the West Coast between Wanganui and To Horo, states that in the busy season (summer) there are about 300 Chinese in that district, but during tho slaok season—that is, when the gardens are resting—tho number is slightly less. Between 60 and 70 Chinese live at Otaki and, To Horo, 70 in Palmerston, 70 iu Wanganui, and 18 or so at Feilding, lint Marton, S or 10 at Foxtail. 1(1 at Shannon, and two at Levin. All these are visited by Mr. Don during tlw course of his work, and at services heard at Otaki last week about two-thirds of this population attended. Mr. Don thinks that the Chinese in Now Zealand respond fairly readily to this Christian teaching. It is interesting to note that tho missionary movement started in tho Canton villages by tho New Zealand Churoh sprang from the work amongst the Chinese in New Zealand. Tho two bear tlio relation of mother and daughter, but, at present, tho daughter has considerably outgrown the mother. Chinese who liavo been converted to Christianity in Now Zealand, on returning to their home, have kept in touch with them, and so the village missions in China secured a footing. No other mission in China is so related to tho work abroad as tho Canton Village Mission is to tho missionary work in. New Zealand, and, as tho result of this, tho work done in New Zealand is a great benefit to tluat in China. About 40 cf the 70 Chinese ill Palmerston North come' from ono villago in China, and consequently all of theso havo the same surname. Missionary wlork was just been started in their villago. In Wanganui fully 50 of the 70 belong to ono village, whilo at Otaki nearly all tho Chinaso come from two villages.