MELANESIAN MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 5

MELANESIAN MISSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sip.,—Will you nllov.- me a little space in which to plead once again llie great needs of the Melaue'sian missionaries. The prac[jce of sending what Hishop Wilson calls "tuck buses" is so greatly appreciated by the whole staff that I ain anxious for it to he more widely known. For those clergy that are travelling by the Southern Cross the. fare is none too luxurious, and rightly so. wilh the funds in their present low condition; hut cannot kindly individuals and good housewives supplement their ordinary fare? To the latter I should like to say that, it is a poor store-room that would miss a littlo frond, firm jam (in screw-topped bottles), tomato sauce, chutney, etc., and these latter eo u long way in keeping down tinned meals. Good chccse, well-packed bacon, hams, tins of biscuits are most useful, and if kindly folk realised this I think that tlioy would gladly send some. To those sending direct I would suggest the way to address them: "For t3ie clergy on hoard the .Southern Cross for the A T oke; not to be put ashore; care of Agent Gerald O'Halloran, Esq.. Shortland street, Auckland." They should reach him by the second week in March. Then may I make a further appeal for money to be sent to me for medical restoratives and concentrated foods to be sent, with each missionary io "nis island. Bovril staimnoids, plasmon, chocolate, seeded raisins, etc., will help sustain a man in his whaleboat, and keep off malarial more certainly than medical treatment and nursing will cure him of ■it when oncc it has taken hold of his system. This appeal is sufistantially the same as (ho kindly press made public for me last year, but since that appeal I have had such grateful thanks from these men that it almqst makes one feel ashamed that mora is not done for men who cive their all while wo rest contented with giving so little, of our abundance. Surely, malaria averted and strength preserved, to say nothing of hope, revived, by sympathy are sufficient "return after many days" of a little of our "bread cast upon the waters." Encouraged by the success of last year's appeal may I again count upon your good offices on our behalf?—l am, etc., Sucr CALTO-.T!, Wife of the Bishop's Commissary. Auckland, February 9.