RONGOTEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 225, 22 August 1938, Page 12

RONGOTEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) RONGOTEA, Aug. 19. An interesting address on missionary enterprise, past and present, was given in the Rongotea Gospel Hall by Mr E. Barton, of the Sudan Interior Mission. Mr E. N. Rowe was in the chair and there was a (good attendance considering the inclement weather. Mr Barton outlined the physical features of the country and showed the great difficulties that had to Ibo overcome before effective work could be accomplished. Numerous lantern slides were shown, depicting the low moral condition of the people, and also the great progress that had taken place under the influence of the Gospel. Special reference was made to the ex-Empcror Haile Selassie who, the speaker declared, was a well educated man and of high moral worth, who for many years past had been doing his best to lift the people to a higher standard of living, and had sought in every way method* for the betterment of the country—a real helper and friend to the missionary, whom he had learned was of the same mind as himself. It had been stated that the Emperor, had acted in a cowardly manner in leaving his people, but he was far from that. The real reason of his leaving was the treachery of some of his chiefs who sought to take his life. Mr Barton described the hard conditions under which a missionary laboured; however, the medical side of his activities had its compensation, and he counted it all joy to be privileged to spend his life in such a worthy cause.

Mr W. A. Churchill, headmaster of the Rongotea School, left to-day for Dunedin at the invitation of the Otago High School Old Boys’ Association, of which he is a member. Ex-pupils arc • attending to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the school._ Mr H. Simonsen, of Waitoa, Thames Line, is on a visit to his parents, Mr and Mrs A. Simonsen, Rongotca.

The annual ladies’ night arranged by the local auxiliary of the R.S.A. drew a large attendance of members with their wives and friends. The president, Mr W. A. Churchill, welcomed visitors, and Mr W. H. Foster acted as M.C. Dancing and cards were enjoyed. The supper arrangements were in the hands of Mr W. Mobberly. Competition winners were: Gay Gordons, Mr J. Teaz and Miss M. Bottcher; statue waltz, Mr W. Hart and Miss J. Jessop; waltz, Mr W. Young and Miss R. Hill. Euchre: Ladies, Mrs Imrie and Mrs Powell; men, Mr R. Hill and Mr G. Hill. .

News has been received from Blenheim of the death of a former Rongotea resident Mr E. Lancy, who was associated with’ the late Mr Joseph Broadbelt in farming interests. He had reached the ripe old age of 90 years. Although it was nearly 35 years since ho had left, here, Mr Lancy had kept in touch with local affairs and a letter received only a few months ago showed that his memory and other faculties were little unpaired by age.