THE NEW HEBRIDES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10134, 11 June 1924, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES

VIEWS OF THE PRESBYTERY. PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT. The bi-monthly meeting of the Ashburton Presbytery ' was held in StAndrew's Church yesterday. Therewas a good attendance of ministersand elders. The Rev. H. H. Barton.' and the Rev. G. McDonald, of Dunedin, were present. It was decided that in future the* Presbytery meet at 10.30 a.m. The clerk reported that the Rev. J.. Bisset, Assembly evangelist, would! hold missions at Rakaia from OctobeC 19 to November 2, at Tinwald fronr November 16 to November 30, and probably at Mayfield from December 7. to December 21. A letter was received from the Foreign Missions Committee dealing: with the unsatisfactory state of affairs 1 , in the New Hebrides, and the following resolution wa s agreed to:—"That; this Presbytery, having learnt of the continuance of conditions in the New Hebrides, which are profoundly unsatisfactory to all concerned, a gravemenace to the life and well-being of" the natives, and a scandal to civilisation, urges upon the Government to' take whatever steps are possible toensure the ending of the Condominium and the bringing of the islands tinder sole British control."

The Presbytery also resolved to commend to the members of the congregations within the bounds, and to the electors generally, the petition which is now being circulated to, this end. and calls upon the people to remember the New Hebrides in ceaseless prayer and to use every constitutional means of arousing the enthusiasm of the community in support of energetic action, by the authorities. 'The Rev. R. Dickie and Rev. B.*. Hercus agreed to visit the sheep st»->. tions at the head of the Rakaia and'' Ashburton Gorges once a year. A : special feature of the meeting- was-• an address on the Foreign Missions' of the Presbyterian Church given; bv.the Rev. H. Barton.