WAIATA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 181, 3 July 1931, Page 12

WAIATA.

(From Our Ovrn Ccr respondent. * WAIATA, July 1

On Tuesday evening the monthly meeting in connection with the \Y aiata Presbyterian Church was held in the church and was well attended, Rev. A. Forherincham continuing his interesting travel talks on Africa. Starting from where he left off last month. Mr Fotheringham dea.t with Xvasaland and the work or me African Lakes Corporation there. Commencing from Biantyre and travelling tne forty-mile read to Zomba, the speaker briefly described the trip. This road. he said, wae the only real road in all Nyasaland, having a metal surface, while the other roads with their ciay formation were rendered impassible by the heavy rain for about three months of the year. Even on this forty-mile road the tail elephant grass on each side grew to such heights and with such amazing rapidity during the rainy season that it fell across the road and made travelling very difficult. Zomba. situated snugly among mountains about 4000 ft high, was a beautiful town where the Government house and the homes of many Government officials were situated. It was also the headquarters of the King's African Rifles, and the desorption of the State functions and social life was especially interesting. Zomba had among other fine buildings a splendid hospital, a prison and a beautiful war memorial in the shape of a chiming clock, which was a source of wonder and interest to the natives. Speaking of the work of the present day missionaries, Mr Fotheringharn particularly mentioned the splendid work of those connected with the Church of England. Lake Nyasa, a stretch _ of water 500 miles long by £0 miles wide, was surrounded by mountains rising to a height of 10,000 ft, and is noted for its terrible storms. There were three boats on the lake and the speaker described how these boats were brought. They were dismantled several times on the journey and carried across vast stretches of country by native carriers in charge of the missions and the African Lakes Corporation, and the hardships faced end conquered on the journey showed the wonderful persevering spirit of these brave men. The speaker also spoke of the dreadful curse of the slave traffic, describing how the Arabs from the one side and a particular savage tribe, known as the wild Angonis, descendants of the great Chief Chakka, descending from the other side, carried off thousands of natives to the coasts and sold them in the slave markets. There the early missionaries had faced dangers and privations and eventually triumphed in abolishing this menace. The description of of the native life and customs of the present day and ’of the native scenery and wild animals was very instructive. At the elcee of the address Mr Fotheringham was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. During the evening a sacred solo, “Xailed to the Cross,” was rendered by Mrs Slight and Miss Dawson. Supper concluded a pleasant evening.