HOME FROM TONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 9

HOME FROM TONGA.

MISSION WORKERS. FATHER AND DAUGHTER. YOUNG WOMAN'S ENTHUSIASM After live years' work as a missionary in Tonga, Mi-. Robert Gordon-Kirgan is now enjoying a brief holiday in !Sew Zealand. With his daughter Heather, who is in charge of a mission school, lie reached Auckland yesterday in the Karetu. Jlr. Gordon-Kirgan, who was born at Lochgilphead, Scotland, left his native land 00 years ago, and has worked as a missionary in Tonga for a considerable period. • He confessed that he found the life very trying, and the work difficult at times, but said he loved it and intended to return. Tonga, like many other islands in the Pacific, was feeling the pinch of hard times,at present, and with copra at 1/ for 351b the future of the coconut industry was by no means bright. However, development was being made in the comparatively new iiulus- . tries of pineapple and banana growing. Unfortunately, the natives were frequently exploited by the trading conj cerns, and there was need for stricter supervision in this regard.

Miss Gordon-Kirgan, who is qxiito young, lias evidently been blessed with a sound constitution, for she has suffered no ill-effects as the result of four years' residence in the tropical island climate. She spoke enthusiastically of the whole-hearted application of her girl pupils, who, she said, showed remarkable aptitude for handicraft of all kinds. The natives had an inborn sense o rhythm and music, and quickly developed an ear for the best jii melody. With a humorous twinkle in her blue eves Miss Gordon-Kirgan confessed that she found it somewhat trying when, occasionally, one or two of her mos. nromisiii" P»P i,s 11111 aH ' a - v to = et ,nar : ried but "she said many of them returned to school, and were obviously appreciative of the tuition. Like her father, she intends to return to her work 111 longa after her holiday.