MELANESIAN MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1887, Page 2

MELANESIAN MISSION.

At the Library, Bishop's Court, yesterday, the annual meeting of the St. Barnabas Ladies' Association was held, when there was a large attendance. The Association, closely connected as it is with the Melanesian Mission, had the opportunity of hearing from Bishop Selwyn, who has just returned from a short holiday from his , labours in those fields, an account of the progress of the work under the Mission. Holy Communion was "celebrated at ten o'clock in the Bishop's Chapel by Bishop Selwyn,assisted by Bishop Cowie. After this service had concluded the Missionary Bishop gave a graphic and most interesting account of the labours of the white and native teachers in the rough fields he had just left. His romarks were specially directed to the recent progress of things in the Florida and Solomon groups of islands, also at Santa Cruz. The Rev. Dr. Codrington also addressed the meeting, speaking especially of the Norfolk Island training colleges. The twelve Melanesian native teachers, chiefly from the Solomon Group, who arrived in the Southern Cross last week, sang several English songs during the morning , . These men are very small, but well-made, and have remarkably wellformed heads for natives. All dressed alike, with soft felt hats and bare feet, these scholars during the past week have been seeing the sights of Auckland under the fatherly guidance of Bishop Cowie.