MELANESIAN MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 23 October 1922, Page 6

MELANESIAN MISSION.

THE NEW HEBRIDES HURRICANE.

The preacher on Sunday morning at •■st. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, and in the evening at St. Matthew's, was the Rev. R. H. Hobday, M.A., who is visiting the Auckland diocese as organising secretary for the New Zealand Board of Missions of the Anglican Church The board is responsible for the maintenance of missionaries in India. China. Japan. Africa, and Melanesia, and for work among the Chinese in New Zealand. In the course of his addresses, Mr. Hobday .made a rpei-ial appeal on behalf of the work in Melanesia, a mission which wae originally worked by Bishop Sehvyn and the martyr Bishop Patteson from Kohimarama, Auckland, and wkich still forms a part of the provincial organisation of the Anglican Church in New Zealand, its bishop being ox-oflieio member of the General Synod. The work of the mission has recently received a severe Wowowing to devastation wrouafht by a hurricane in the New Hebrides and neighbouring , islands. Full details of fiio damage are now to hand, and it ie estimated that the cost of replacement to I the mission will be fully £2000.

On tshe morning of April 7 last a terrific storm swept over the district, gradually increasing in violence until it reached the island of Raga, where its utmost fury was experienced. In the short space of one hour the whole countrysiile became nothing 'but a mass of smashed and broken trees, huge trees beinjr torn up 'by the roots, .others snapped off like carrots, and every vestige of green vegetation swept away. The mission work on the island was very flourishing «ith no less than 60 churches, under the charge of Rev. R. Godfrey, formerly curate of ilasterton. Of this number onjy four remained after the hurricane had passed. Besides this destruction of property in Ruga, great damage was done in other islands both !n tiheXew-Hebrides*ground Jand also in the Banks of Torres Islands furthei north. It is to provide the neeessar> funds to repair tliie heavy loss that. Mr. Hobday is making a special appeal. Uenerous donations are invited to meet this urgent need, and may be handed to the lion, secretary, Rev.*C. A. B. Watson, St Paul's Vicarage, or the hon treasurer, Key. Canon MacFarland, Board of Missions Office. Grey Buildings Court House Lane.