BISHOP OF PAPUA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 987, 2 June 1930, Page 11

BISHOP OF PAPUA

HERE ON WAY TO ROME “ALWAYS TRAVELLING” For 32 years Bishop De Boismenu, Roman Catholic Bishop of Papua, lias laboured among the natives of that sparsely-populated and fever-ridden country. He arrived there as a priest, filled with the desire to go among the peoples of a wild country. Leaving his parish in St. Malo, Britanny, he journeyed to Papua, Borneo, there to live a life vastly different from that of quiet and peaceful France. Bishop De Boismenu is on his way to Rome to make his report to the Pope. This is done once every 10 years—the only times the Bishop leaves Papua. He will also visit his home in France and the relatives of some of his white flock, who live in Vancouver.

As the Bishop leaned over the de:krail of the Niagara and rolled himself a cigarette, he told something of a life which has been strenuous and cranimed with adventure. He makes little of it, however, and says that today the natives are quiet, orderly people if they are handled properly by those understand their language. Bishop De Boismenu has his headquarters on Yule Island, 60 miles from Port Moresby. Scattered throughout his wide diocese there are mission stations with their churches and schools which can be reached only on horseback or on foot. Launches and canoes are also a necessary means of transport because of the wild country. which can only be reached by \va ter. The whole of Papua is under the jurisdiction of the bishop, and as it takes almost the whole of the year to visit all the stations, the bishop spends most of his time travelling, spending nights in native villages without fear. The Papuans, says the bishop, are very intelligent people, and learn quickly if they are kept at school. A large number of the schools are conducted by Australian sisters, who are most efficient. THREATENED BY NATIVES In the early days of the bishop’s residence in Papua he found some difficulty in managing the people because ho did not understand the language, but this quickly passed when that handicap was overcome. Once when out exploring the bishop and his party were deserted by their carriers, and the situation looked serious. The natives wanted to kill the white men, who were powerless, as they did not carry weapons. However. Bishop de Boismenu and his party decided to leave everything they possessed to the natives, who fell upon the food and equipment with such enthusiasm that the missionaries were able to depart in peace. There are nearly 100 missionaries in Papua, and a large percentage of whites, including miners, traders, and planters. Papua, the bishop says, is a fertile country, but quite undeveloped. The low-lying country is most unhealthy, but as most of the area is mountainous it is possible to get away from the fever-infested parts. The bishop is accompanied by Father Norin. who is also going to Europe, and Father Fitzpatrick, of Bondi. Sydney, who is on his way to Vancouver.