AT THE SOLOMONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 10

AT THE SOLOMONS.

CANNIBALISM DYING.

BISHOP WADE'S EXPERIENCE.

TWELVE YEARS A MISSIONARY

Although cannibalism is still practised in some untouched portions of the Solomon Islands, it is fast dying out and the natives are gradually becoming Christianised. This information was given this morning by Biehop Wade, Roman Catholic Bishop of the North Solomons; who is a through passenger by the Mariposa on his first visit to Rome. An American by birth. Bishop Wade has spent 12 years in missionary work in the Solomon Islands and was consecrated Bishop of the North Solomons at Sydney live years ago. Associated with the Roman Catholic Mission in the Solomons is Father John McHardy, of Taranaki. lie is a brother of the late Father Emmet McHardy, who was also connected with the same mission. A film hns been made of life in the Solomon Islands under the title of "Saints and Savagee." This is being shown in Australia at the present time, a charge for admission being made to raise funds for the mission. The "movie" will be brought to New Zealand after it has been shown iii Melbourne. The pictures were mainly taken by the late Father McHardy. When he died his brother completed the film, which is 8000 ft in length The Island of Bouganvillo, which is 200 miles long, possessed some bad sections as far as untamed natives were concerned,- said Bishop Wade, but the mission was gradually penetrating into the midst of the hostile people. The villages of Kuiiua and Numa had been visited this year. They were deserted by the natives which, was a sign that they had become peaceful and would gradually come back. "Killings by the natives generally take place when their villages are surprised by the penetration of Europeans,! , said Illsiiop Wade. "The natives get excited and kill more through fear than by intention."