THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 110, 10 May 1902, Page 6

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

INTERVIEW WITH A MISSIONARY.

The Rev. W. H. Edgell, of the Melanesian Mission, who is making a tour through the colony, in a short interview with a representative of the "Lyttelton Times," gave an interesting sketch of the people among whom his work lies. He has now spent six years in mission work among the natives of the north-east corner of the New Hebrides Group, his headquarters being situated at the Island of Raga, or Pentecost; and in spite of all the drawbacks that might be expected in such a place, he professes himself thoroughly happy there-

It will be remembered that some months ago Mr Edgell met with a serious misfortune, through, the burning of his house, school and church by the crew of a French trading vessel. In answer to a question ahout^this matter, he stated that he had received very fair compensation from the French Government. He lost a great many valued possessions, and the mission also suffered severely through the loss of its church and school, but the compensation asked was granted.

In regard to the natives of the New Hebrides, Mr Edgell has very little to say that is not to their credit. "They are not so black as they are painted," he said, "and it is to be regretted that they are so much decried. I can speak, of course, only for the natives of my own parish, who are a very tractable people, improving quickly under the influence of the missionaries. Many of them are still heathen, and in Raga there is one cannibal village, but the people are always friendly to the man whom they feel they can trust. When T first went there, I was looked at askance, and eyed suspiciously, but as soon as they found out my intentions they became perfectly friendly. White traders and others, English, French and Scandanavians generally get on very well there, and you may be sure when you hear of any trouble arising that a white man is at the bottom of it. Since I have been there I have known of only five white men being killed in my district. In each case the fault lay with the white, and in each case the killing was done by heathen natives. When the natives are ill-treated they naturally become angry, but they are not so unreasonable as to visit every o:.ence with the utmost penalty. On one occasion they punislied a trader who bad ill-used them by rolling him down his own footpath over a cliff, and on to the sands- He had a limb broken and learnt a useful lesson. They are, on the whole, a contented people, and they lead an easy life, finding their means of sustenance very easily. They are rich in pigs and mats, which form their medium of exchange, though traders and missionaries, too, use tobacco as

money."

Begarding the importance' of the annexation of the group of islands by Great Britain, Mr Edgell is emphatic in his views. He explains that he has refrained from participating in the political life of the group, and so cannot be considered an authority on the question, but he is very strongly of opinion that it has immense strategic importance to Great Britain. "If we annex it," he said, "we at once threaten New Caledonia, and if France takes it, it must prove a thorn in the side of Fiji. The opinion of dwellers in the group is that Great Britain is not fully alive to its importance, and is in great danger of losing- it. In spite of the praiseworthy efforts of Australia? in urging the Home Government to secure the islands, little notice is taken, and the islanders feel that they are rather left out in the cold. The greatest importance of the New Hebrides is from the strategic point of view, for there is no great likelihood of trade developing to any extent- There is, however, a trade in maize just coming into existence, and this may be cultivated with profit, for the climate is eminently well adapted to the growing of this grain. The natives would prefer the English flag to the French, for they are often ill-treated by French traders, and would feel safer under English rule."

Mr Edgell after maJdng a journey through the North Island will proceed to Sydney on his way back to the home where he is to labour arduously for another five years.