A DISTRSSING STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1918, Page 1

A DISTRSSING STORY.

Sydney, March 27. A horrible story comes from a mission station situated about 500 miles from Sydney, where a couple of women missionaries have been operating among the New South Wales blacks, on behalf of a sect which has its headquarters in Sydney.

A girl, who is now about 22 years of age, who conies from one of the oldest and best knowu Australian families, and who lias been wel q educated, became the victim of re I L-ions fervour, and attached herself i-> an evangelistic body' which some time ago broke away from one of the main missionary organisations, and established headquarters of its own. This girl was sent ont to the far-back mission-camp referred to, to work among the She found there another white woman missionary, but the latter did not remain lm g, and the girl was presently left by herself in the camp.

j Those who know anything of the !,Australian blacks will understand | that the environment was degrading ■ The girl ftfUnd the people not inclined 1 towards discipline of any kind, and 1 rather resentful other intrusion. Her position was a most ■ unhappy one. She was not supported by the missionary organisation '■> she had to depend on the blacks for practically everything. She had to go into the ; bush and collect wood so that she might cook and make lit for eating the food Supplied to her. Near the camp was a hotel,, {and part of the self-imposed duty of this girl was to go there and bring “ home ” such of the blacks as had been merry-making. On her horse-back trips to the district town, nearly 40 miles away, her only companion was a black. It is stated that on one of the journeys the girl was thrown from he? horse and sustained an injury which affected her mentality. Her situation can he imagined; she was entirely in the charge qt the aborigines. As a result of her unfortunate associations, the girl married an inmate of the camp—a half-caste. The fact caused a most unpleasant sensation in certain quarters, and excited enquiries are now being made, when it is too late. It appears from a pamphlet issued by the missionary body in question that the the woik of the mission is carried on at any aboriginal settlement by missionaries sent forth by the Holy Spirit. No fixed or any remuneration is guaranteed. the missionaries being expected ro depend ijpon God for the supply of all their needs. All temporal and financial needs of the mission me sought at the hands of the Loid by. prayer, no .money or goods being asked for from men.”

It has been ascertained that the girl was sent away to this camp without any enquiry being made as to her general fitness for the work ; and that after she established herself there, no investigation as to her welfare and progress was undertaken. When the girl wished to get married, she appealed in vain to several Protestant clergymen. They refused their offices, hut none of the good men appears to have thought it worth while to make an effort to save the girl, or report the matter to the authorities. They were finally married, reluctantly, by a priest, who says that, as the unfortunate girl was determined to have the man, it was the only thing to do. However, the missionary society is now going to have some light let into its affairs.