DEVIL’S ISLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 8

DEVIL’S ISLAND

’CATHOLIC PRIEST FOR CONVICT’S

LONDON, March 19

It might have been thought that if there was one place in the world where a bishop w.as needed it was ,Frenioli Guiana., with its colony of 450!) deported convicts. Yet at the present moment a single Roman Catholic chaplain i s responsible for the spiritual welfare of these unhappy men, writes the Paris correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph.” This gap, however, i-s now to be filled; It has been decided to appoint Bishop of Guinea a man who lias spent thirteen years as a missionary in Reunion, the beautiful French island iii t tile Indian Ocean, and in the 'French Congo colony of Gallon. He is ; M on s i g n o f " G on t f ay. Returning to France only ,a few days ago, lie was informed of his new appointment when he reached Marseilles.

On arriving in Paris lie once efet To work to study everything that lias Lean written about Cbvoniie, from official .reports to the brilliant book of ! Albert Loud its, the journalist who investigated conditions in the colony as no other modern man has done, and who war, one of the victims of the fire oil the French liner Georges Phillippar.

Monsignor Gontmy has no illusions about the task before him. Almost, single-handed ho will be in charge of a large diocese whore the climate is terrible and means of communication are confined almost entirely to canoes travelling o'A the rivers.

ITe has already received many appeals from the mothers, wives and •sweethearts of convict:-, to carry messages cf sympathy to the outcasts.