BACK FROM SOLOMONS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 103, 26 January 1943, Page 2

BACK FROM SOLOMONS

Woman Missionary In Wellington A remarkable story of courage, endurance and devotion Io duty has been revealed by the experiences of a member of Hie Melanesian Mission. Mrs. R. Sprolt, who has arrived al Wellington. .Mrs. Sprolt is Hie widow of a nephew of the late Bishop Sprolt. Wellington, and was th ' last woman Io be evaeliati'il from lhe island of Santa Y.-abcl, in the Solomons. For 24 years Airs. Sprott was in sole charge of the .Melanesian Mission station

on the island, and during that time the natives learned to regard her with esteem and affection. Part of her work consisted Of teaching and training young natives, who in their turn became teachers lit the schools established in the various villages. Though the Japanese, after invading the Solomons, did not come to -Mrs. Sprott’s locality for some time, the danger had become so great by April that it was deemed wise to get away from the coast as soon tis possible. The natives took Mrs. Sprott into the interior of the jungle, and there for over 10 months she remained bidden, fleeing from one place to another as danger approached. “I cannot speak too highly of the courage and ingenuity, loyalty aud devotion of the natives,” said Mrs. Sprott. “They were marvellous.” If an American airman came down in the. jungle or in the son they would immediately rush H) his rescue, and sometimes take bint ..'0 miles in their canoes to the nearest unlive practitioner They carried nil the food and medi-al supplies away from the mission station and hid them in several different places, so that if one store were discovered others would remain.