MISSION WORK IN NEW BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 2 January 1903, Page 3

MISSION WORK IN NEW BRITAIN.

EXCELLJENT TEOGEESS MADE.

INTERVIEW WITH.A MISSIONISJIY.

Missionary work in New Britain is steadily advancing, and some interesting: information is t given "by the Rev. H-einxicli Fellmaim, a German missionary, wlio is at present on a visit to Sydney.

When Newßritain'became" as German colony there was some rajsapprehension that there would be a difficulty, with regard to the policy of the Methodist Missionary Society, -and the lat» ter, to avoid this, asked the German Episcopal Church or one oirtKeir ministers to work on the islands, and they sent the Rev. Mr iFeitoama. The latter, explains -the Rev. Dr.\BrOwn, general secretary t>f the jMte&lfodist Missionary Society f at whose Office the German minister was seen by a representative of the "Daily iTelegraph," has had charge of the negotiations ,and the plan has been » remarkably successful one. "The German Government," said Dr. Brown, "know -more about our work, and-we have carried on our eommunicatipn* without the least dispute. Mt anS Mrs Fellmaim have • done splendid work, and they enjoy the fullest-«xna« fidence of the Mission Board. ,

When the Rev. Mr Fellmann -went to theislands, about six years ago. mission work had already been established there about twenty-three years. When he arrived there were, however, only two missionaries and five native teachers. Now there are five white missionaries, a missionary sister, and a little over one hundred native teachers. During the last six years the native members of the Church have nearly doubled. There are now 103 churches and 118 native churches with 2006 full members and 616 mem' beru on probation. Altogether there are 14,075 adherents of the Church. The natives freely contribute to the mission, and it is "a wonderful thing-" says the Eev. Mr Fellmann, "that they give in money, which they earn by selling- copra. The average ia about one shilling per head, so that yo,u see they are not overburdened. The white residents also subscribe, of course, and in one case as much as £50 is given. In 1896, the first year of my work there, the amount received was £445, while in the current year the sum has reached £927."

Dr. Brown here pointed out that the expenses of the mission work last year were £2207. The doctor also referred to the fact that New Britain was another instance of the progress of commerce as the result of missionary work. "When I went down there in 1875," he said, "the imports and exports were nil. Now they amount to thousands and thousands of pounds."

The returned missionary explains that it is hoped to spread the missionary work now carried on to Nusa, and on New Britain (New Pommeru) they hope to establish a station at Nakanai, in the regions of the volcanoes called "the Father and Sons." After the eruption in Samoa the people of Jew Britain folly expected an oiitbreak, especially as an old native had declared that he .had had a: vision of an eruption. The native also said that the wind and weather were the same as before the eruption of 1878. So far, however, there had been no outbreak of the volcano, which, the missionary explained, was always emitting fire and smoke. Speaking of the progress of trade at the islands the Eev. Mr Fellmann says that great progress is being made in cultivation on the islands, especially as regards the cocoa plantations. New ground is always being taken""out, and it is proposed to open up the north-western archipelago. Mr Fellmann is now on a holiday visit, and after spending a few weeks in Australfe he will proceed to Germany, returning in about a year's time. One of his objects will be to secure another missionary, either in Australia or in Germany, as it is proposed to open up a special school for. native children at Ealnana 3 where he is stationed.

The missionary is accompanied by ■his wife and child, and with regard to the latter he points out that it is a remarkable thing that he has never been attacked with malaria.