COURAGEOUS PARSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 14

COURAGEOUS PARSON.

ARRESTS SEVEN NATIVES.

A daring feat by the Rev. Arthur Haining in arresting seven Kimberley aborigines a few months ago on a charge of cattle killing has been disclosed. Mr. Haining, who is oft. in height, and weighs 15st., has had 30 years' experience of the natives, aiyJ is known among them for his calmness and fearlessness.

Unarmed and accompanied only by a mission boy he left Forrest River mission, when? he was engaged on reorganisation after tho Rev. E. W. Gribble's departure for Sydney, and entered tho bush natives' camp, telling them that he wanted seven men who had killed mission cattle. Five natives, after some deliberation, agreed to surtendcr, but two ringleaders were defiant. and wanted to fight it out.. With out hesitation ho .accepted the challenge, first knocking out one big native with his fists and tiicn overpowering tho other. When tho defeated aboriginal had recovered Mr Haiuing marshalled seven submissive natives and escorted them to Forrest River. Three are still serving sentences in Wyndham gaol. Mr., Haining's fume spread throughout tho bush tribes, and the day before his recent departure for Perth the aborigines brought in 0110 of their dead with the request that the body should be buried m "God's land" instead of according to tho tribal custom, with its strange ceremony.