P.C.N.Z.

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 3

P.C.N.Z.

FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Foreign Mission® Committee of the Presbyterian Churoh of New Zealand was held on Wednesday afternoon, Professor Hewitson presiding. There was a good attendance o! members, with whom were associated Sister Agnes, representing the city deaconesses, and Miss Ramsay the Young Women’s Bible Class Union. The convenor welcomed Bov. G. H. Jupp and Mr J. W. Todd, new members appointed by the General Assembly. GENERAL. It was resolved that a letter be sent congratulating tho P.W.M. Union upon the appointment of a travelling secretary ami upon the secretary they have secured (Sister Christabo!) ; also to offer to help as fas as possible, to invite Sister Chriatabel to attend the committee’s meetings whenever able, and to thank St. Andrew’s congregation for having given up their deaconess for a year. Professor Hewitson reported that, tho reports of medical referees having been favorable, Nurse H. M. Arnold had been accepted as a candidate in training for India, to which hold it is hoped she will proceed after several months’ residence in the Women’s Training Institute. Rev. W. J. Comxie reported that the General Assembly had adopted regulations framed by a special committee, bringing at once into operation a beneficiary fund for the single women missionaries of i ho Church.—Tlie committee received the letter with much pleasure, and on the motion of Mr A. Bum a small committee was act up to review the regulations and to con sidcr how best to secure the £2,000 capital required before any annuities or allowances can bo paid out of the fund. Let tore were received from tire Canterbury District Y.W.B.C. Union and from tha Dominion Executive of the Y.M.B.C. Union, asking for missionaries to visit their Easter camps at Heathcote and Palmerston North respectively.—lt was resolved to allow Miss A. I). Hancock to attend the Heathcote camp, and to ask Dr E. W. Kirk, if he should roach New Zealand in time, to visit the- Palmerston North camp; also to approve of an itinerary of four weeks for Miss Hancock, during which she will visit eight Presbyter; al associations and seven girls’ colleges and high schools, mostly in the NorthIsland. letters were received from Mrs 1. Smaill, Rev. W. Watt, Rev. M. Prater, and Rev. T. W. Leggatt—all missionaries to the New Hebrides—highly commending the book ‘Light in Dark Isles,’ which is the mission study book for this year.— The committee recorded appreciation of the work, and a small committee was set up to consider the subject of mission study in 1920. The Convener reviewed the present situation in the various mission fields of the Church, especially India and China, owing very Largely to the war—the return before long of the missionaries who liad been on national service, the great increase of expenditure owing to unfavorable exchange and the cost of living, the excessive strain upon the reduced staffs without reinforcement® during the war and consequent serious impairment of health in several cases, the very urgent need of more missionaries to deal with natural developments of the work, the plane for enlargement of the hospital in India- and for oftaldishing girls’ and boys’ boarding schools in China, and other important issues.—lt was resolved that an exhaustive statement bo prepared to set the position squarely before the churches throughout tho Dominion. NEW HEBRIDES. Revs. R. Milne and W. V. Milne reported that at length influenza had appeared upon Nguna ; that seveia. deaths had occurred : that tho Condominium Government had prohibited (as an epidemic preventive measure) tee importation of second-hand clothing, such as is qltei sent in mission boxes, also ot old calicoes for surgical dressings ; that- another hurricane, without much damage, had occurred on January 26, on which day 9.3 bur ot ruin fell. Rev. 0. Mitehelsen- reported that influenza is again going over the of Tcngoa, with deaths among the natives almost daily—one being that of his most trusted native teacher, of whom he says : “There is not a more whole-hearted Christian on the island, nor a better instructed man in tho Bible, nor a more gifted preacher- both to young and old.” MiMi tcbeUen also stated that his own health has greatly improved, so that he is able to preach again; that the road from west to east, which was blocked by the hurricane in November, had been opened up, and the natives were gathering togethersheets of iron from all over the hills to prepare for rebuilding the church on the east side ; that he had had a conference with the native teachers, at which he expected to meet about 22, but nearly 50 had attended. Ail the missionaries refer to the political situation. Mr Mitehelsen writes: “There is a good deal of talk of French annexation of this group. The French are quite sure of it." Mr Milne writes: ‘‘The French at Vila are telling the natives that it is time for them to be learning French, because the islands will be French in two months.'’ INDIA. Nurse Riddle, who has been in charge of the mission hospital while Mr Riddle has been on military service at the frontier, forwarded her resignation, in view of the early return of Mr Riddle to the field, and tho'Mission Council recommended acceptance.—The committee accepted the resignation, to take effect on June 30 or oir the return of Mr Riddle if he should return earlier, with thanks to Mrs Riddle for her valuable help in an emergency. Mrs Kiddle stated that if Mr Riddle-should be stationed at Jagadhri she would still iLsslot at tho hospital until another nurse arrives. Bov. T. E. Biddle wrote from Peshawar (December 15) that demobilisation was proceeding very slowly, but that ha expected to be released within two montlrs. ■neuters were received from the secretaries of tho Palmerston North and Columba (Oaniaru) branches of tha P.W.M. Union, the former stating that £4O had been contributed for the salaries of two Indian -preachers, and the latter that it had been agreed to contribute £l2 for tho upkeep of an Indian Biblewornan. —It was agreed to thank these branches, and ask the Indian Mission Council to allocate the agents. CHINA. Plana of a gills’ boarding school, proposed to be erected at Kong Chuen, and estimated to cost £4,000, were received, and a sub-committee was appointed to consider tho plans, with power to adopt them ; Mias Hancock being authorised to make tho need of such a school widely known, but, in view of the appeal to bo made by the Home Mission Committee this year, to refrain from making an appeal for funds, except in connection with girls’ colleges and high schools. Rev. W. Mawson forwarded minutes of Mission Council meeting on January 4, containing the following items: —That an offer of £SBO had been made for property adjoining the Ko Tong Chapel; that the hospital out-patient hall had been naijied the “ Mitchell Hall,” in memory of Mr James Mitchell, of Christchurch; that Misa James had satisfactorily passed the third year's language examination ; that additional property had been secured at Shferk Tseng on which to erect buildings for work among women; and that the first cottage (or reathouse) on Dumb-bell Island had been named “Balfour Cottage,” in honor of the donor. Mr A. G. Wilson, treasurer, reported that the £250 received for Noromber-De-cember salaries had exchanged for only 1,500d01, leaving a shortage of l,ooodol, or about £167.—1t was resolrea to authorise the general treasurer to remit the deficiency of £167. Mtte Prentice reported that, owing to the influenza epidemic, the hospital had been overcrowded j that there is an excellent staff of Chinese nurses; and that op January 12 a Sunday school was started for tho hundreds of Komg Chuen village children. She also referred to the illhealth through overwork cf tha single women missionaries, and pleaded for more to be sent out to relieve the strain. Miss Doris Miller, Green leland, was thanked for a copy of the journal of Rev. A. L. Miller from August 31 to Oatofeor

13 j Kaikorai Girl s’ Auxiliary for £7 to the O.V.M. imraary fund; and Opoho S.S. for ths promise to contribute £3 for a bursary to Master Kom at Yan Woh. Boys’ School. By request of Hie convener, Revs. E. Adame and Q. H. Jupp led the committee in prayer for special guidance in meeting the many problems on the mission fields.