THE MISSION FIELD

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1930, Page 8

THE MISSION FIELD

WORK AMONG THE PAPUANS

AUCKLAND, June 2,

Thirty years Roman Catholic Bishop of Papua is the record of Bishop A. G. de Boismenu, who is a through passenger by the Niagara on his way to Rome to make his third decennial report'in person to the Vati an. Bishop de Boismenu, is still comparatively a young man. He hails from Brittany and was sent out to the Catholic Mission In Papua two years before lie was elevated to the Bishopric. In speaking of his work he said this morning that he loved the wild country with its freedom and its opportunities of spreading Christianity among the black people. “I know the country thoroughly,’ ’ he said. “One of the ~ifficußits i.s the lmiltipicity of languages hut I have mastered a number of these, otherwise I would not be able to carry on my office. Bishop de Boismenu expressed the opinion that Papua i.s loss known than Darkest Africa. He is not stationed in the mandated territory taken from Germany, his headquarters being at 1 ule Island 1 , GO miles west of Port Moresby. The Catholic mission, he said, was chiefly engaged in educating the natives, who. in his opinion, are as intelligent as Europeans. Missionors have stations spread inland for many miles, the farthest station heiiig nine days’ march from headquarters.