TAKEN BY BANDITS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 92, 16 October 1934, Page 14

TAKEN BY BANDITS

MISSIONARIES IN CHINA

AUCKLANDER MISSING

A P.i'oss Association message J'rom Shanghai last week elated that the | China Inland Mission reported that there was no trace of the three Hiissioiiiiries who wore kidnapped on October 0 } on<; of whom was Mr. A. llay-i man, a native of Auckland. The bandits with their captives were last seen making toward the Szechwan Province. Mr. Hsiyniiiu lias been engaged in mission activities sincu 1913. lie was in charge of the mission at Kweiyang. A previous message said dispatches received at the British Legation, Pekin, from Chungking, reported the capture by Communists of three foreign missionaries belonging to the China Inland Mission. The other two prisoners are a Swiss, M. Kabos.shardt, and an American, Miss Gemblen. MR. HAYMAN'S CAREER. Mr. Haymnn, who is about 43, was ■ born in Ceylon and came to New Zca- * land with his parents at an early age, states the "New Zealand Herald." ' After living in Christehurch for a short i time, they moved to Auckland, where' Mr. Hayman was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. On completing his education ho joined the staff of Smith and Caughey, Limited, and for several years was employed in the firm's mercery department. Mr. llayman left, Auckland for Adelaide to receive a training for the mission fields and in 1913 he left Australia to join the China Inland Mission. A few years after his arrival m China he married Miss Ruth Matheson, of Sydney, a fellow-missionary. In 192:! Mr. and Mrs. Hayman came to New I Zealand on t'urlouyh, but shortly after I taking up their duties again in China I Mrs. llayman died. A few years later Mr. llayman married Miss Rhodu Johnston, of England, who was also engaged in the mission fields. In 1932 Mr. llayman received his second furlough. Leaving China ho and Mrs. Hayman journeyed through Russia to England and later paid a, visit to New Zealand. STATION FAR FROM COAST. Mr. Hayman is in charge of the mission station at Kweiyang, in the province of Kweiehow, which is a considerable distance from the coast. There lie was living with his wife and their two young children. Mr. Hayman's four children by his first marriage are all attending the China Inland- Mission's school at Chefoo, which is not far from Shanghai. In a letter written on August 28, which his brother, Mr. L. T. llayman, of Birknnhcad, received only yesterday, Mr. llayman said: "It is reported that the Communists have taken Szcnan, a town some five days' journey away. We praj-erfully trust, that this menace will be put down. If the Reds come, here wo will have to decamp. Mow than one missionary lias lost his life at their hands, beside many Chinese Christians. It is not sufficient for theijt to bo driven out of one pro vineo into another, for they will only there, make trouble." ROBBED OF BELONGINGS. f In another letter written about three months ago Mr. llayman said the mis[sion station had been robbed by bandit*, who had stolen all his money aiid personal effects. In other letters he has referred to the trouble that the Reds and bandits had brought to the are.i he controlled—an area equal to the North Island of New Zealand. . Mr. Hayman's mother is Mrs. J. E Hayman, of Mount Eden, Mr. Hayman sen., having died some years ago. He . has one sister, Miss I'1. W. Hayman, of ' Auckland, and six brothers, Mr. V. C. Hayman, California; Mr. C. G. Hay- :l man, New York; Mr. H. V. Hayman, Whangarei, Mr. G. G. Hayman, Ivawlna, and Messrs. R. R. Hayman and L. T. Hayman, Birkenhead.