METHODIST CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 9

METHODIST CHURCH.

SOLOMON ISI<ANDS DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of the Methodist Mission Board, presided over by the Rev. E. D. Patchett, was completed last week. Among those present was Mrs. W. H. Duke, of Dunedin, Dominion president of the women's auxiliary, who gave a report of the activities which had greatly augmented the funds of the mission, and had been instrumental in raising £1000 out of the £3500 contributed towards the debt reduction scheme. The Rev. T. Dent was also welcomed after 14 years' service in the mission field, from which he had been forced to retire because of ill health. He reported upon tlie ministerial progress of the Rev. Belshazzar Gina, a native probationer, who was described as a wonderful preacher, exerting a splendid influence over his own native people. The hope was expressed that Mr. Gina would revisit .New Zealand early next year. He and Nathan Kera were recommended to be advanced a year in their probation. A report "from the chairman of the district, the Rev. John F. Goldie, stated that despite the economic hardships of the native people they have proved themselves faithful and reliable. No market had been found available for the copra produced, in consequence of which manycould not pay the tax imposed by the Government, and many had been im« prisoned on that account. At least one of the' Christian young men had paid an older man's tax, and suffered imprisonment for personal default. Stringent economies had been made on the field; and at the home base, and the islands district had, within a comparatively small amount, kept to its allocation. This meant, however, the curtailment of important features of the work, and the resort to primitive methods of housing and travelling by the white missionaries. The general secretary, the Rev. A. H. Scriyin, was heartily thanked for his services to the society.