MISSIONARIES SAFE IN SOLOMONS

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 5

MISSIONARIES SAFE IN SOLOMONS

Former Residents Of Invercargill Dr Douglas Thomson and Sister Estelle Field, formerly of Invercargill, who are now working with the Melanesian Mission in the Solomon Islands, are safe and well, according to advice received in the city. Considerable concern about the welfare of all the mission workers has been felt since Japan entered the war, particularly as the Bishop of Melanesia, (the Rt. Rev. Walter Baddeley, D. 5.0.) and his staff elected to remain at their posts. Dr Thomson is a son of the Rev. J. H. Thomson and Mrs Thomson, of Riversdale, and formerly of Kennington. He was a pupil of the Southland Boys’ High School. His wife is staying in Southland as the wax - in the Pacific prevented her return to the Solomon Islands after a visit to New Zealand. Dr Thomson wrote cheerfully last month of the hardships the mission workers were enduring as a result of a shortage of flour and meat, but he added that plenty of native food was available. Sister Field, who has been a member of the mission staff for nine years, is the youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. S. Field and a grand-daugh-ter of the late Mr Thomas Brodrick. She is well known throughout New Zealand, having been on the staffs of hospitals at several centres. Her sister is Mrs R. D. Newth, of Invercargill.