The New Hebrides.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 31 January 1891, Page 2

The New Hebrides.

♦ — ■ There was a good attendance of ladies and children at the lecture given by the Rev Mr Watt on Thursday evening at the Presbyterian church. The men folk were conspicuous by their absence. They evidently know "too much" and cannot imbibe any more knowledge. So much the more, the pity. Those present passed a very instructive evening, as apart from the words, the scenes were shown by lantern slides, on a screen, from photographs taken by the Rev. lecturer. We had a general review of the starting of the Mission and of the first Missionaries, many of whom met the death of martyrs in the cause of duty. The chiefest point of interest was naturally the island of - Tanna, the home of the lecturer and Mrs Watt. The singularity connected with the New Hebrides consists in the fact that the residents on each island speak a dialect different from each other, and it is therefore impossible for the Missionaries to interchange duties. Thus, though at times Mr Watt has moved amongst the group, he has had to keep to Tanna as his field of work. His presence the other evening, is explained, by his being on his return, j after a year's furlough, which has been chiefly taken in the old country in preparing a translation of the New Testament into Tannese and getting it printed. Mr Watt has two stations, not runs, but buildings, on the island, one, on the shores of Port Resolution, and one on the coast at Kwamero. He explained that the islanders were sloav at leceiving the Gospel but were now mostly won over. The climate appears to be anything but a pleasant one, our hottest day being declared to resemble one ot the coolest in that country, and the hottest apparently had no suitable comparison, so none was attempted. The heat must be very disagreable as it was described as a damp heat, which is always very trying. The timber for the dwellings is all taken to the district from over the sea, for though the islands are covered with bush, the timber is unsuitable. In fact we learnt afterwards that fences have to be renewed every year owing to its rotting at the ground line. The houses are all thatched with the foliage of the sugar cane, but owing to the action of the volcanic dust, belched forth by the ever active volcano on the island, they have to be renewed year after year. The surf breaks with a loud and hollow roar on the beach, and the spray is driven far inland, and owing to this, wire fencing is a failure from the thick coating that is put upon it, within a very short period. The miggion station at Port Resolution is on one side of the harbour, and opposite it is the everlasting volcano. The awful dreary sound of its working and belching is something very weird, and by day does it appear perpetually sending up a pillar of smoke, and by night a pillar of fire. That mighty energies are at work below the foundation of the island, liable at any momemt to transform what at present appears a garden of Eden, into either a wilderness, or a space, has been exemplified by the action of an upheaval in this very harbour at the foot of the volcano. It was originally reckoned a splendid harbour, in which a man-of-war could easily enter and lie in safety. The entrance was wide and deep. One day the whole ground rose on one side of the harbour, and there now stands a high cliff of land, where but a short day previously a vessel could have sailed over safely. At a later period a further upheaval took place, and raised one shore of the harbour, thus narrowing the channel and circumscribing its area . The health of the devoted gentleman and Ms wife has been fairly good, which they attribute to the position of the dwelling by which they obtain the salt sea breeze, the house being built close to the shore. There are no cows or horses or sheep, the four footed animals, being the goat, pig and dog. Fish are plentiful, but the sweetest are obtained from the small fresh water stream which falls from the hills and runs past the house. The natives, many views of whom were shown, bear a strong resemblance to the Maori, though they are not so fine in physique, and the hair has more of the "wool" of the negro. The sound of the language has a strong reminder of the Maori. Until just lately, mails were only received once in every six months. No roads dissect the land, all communication is made by water, but the difficulties, in a prevailing wind, makes a return journey exceedingly toilsome and dangerous. Such is a brief and hasty glace at some of the information obtained. It shows that those who willingly forego so much, and put up with so much, must have the indomitable pluck we all admire. It is a great and good thing to do, but how few there are who would care to do it ? We trust that Mr and Mrs Watt may have a safe return, and be spared to spend their declining years amongst more appreciative and congenial neighbours.