CHINESE MISSIONER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22778, 14 January 1936, Page 14

CHINESE MISSIONER

WORK IN AUCKLAND A FORMER REVOLUTIONARY Between 500 and GOO Chinese live in and about the city of Auckland, _ Though they are on good terms with their European neighbours, they remain for the most part a community distinct by themselves largely on account of the language barrier, though, no doubt, race prejudice has also to be reckoned with. Their numbers remain practically stationary and are certainly not increasing. Probably (says the New Zealand Herald) no one knows the Auckland Chinese community better than the Rev. Y. S. Chau, who has been a Christian missionary to them for the past five years. Mr Chau himself is a most interesting personality, and ho had had some remarkable experiences in China before the way opened for him to come to New Zealand. Contact with him soon makes it evident that his life it dominated by two great passions—to preach the Christian Gospel and to further the regeneration of his country. And in Mr Chau these passions are not really two, but one. Mr Chau first associated himself with Christianity at the age of 14, when he took up study at the Pui Ying Grammar School in Canton and became the leader in the Young Men’s Christian Association there. He was a delegate to an association conference held at Peiping, and he returned to Canton full of the idea that China must be changed.

“ BOMB TO TRY TO KILL SOMEONE.’

“I joined the Revolutionary Club,” he said, in recalling one of the crises of hia life. “ and I made a big bomb to trv to kill someone. I was not successful. It was very dangerous, and the weather was too hot. I am glad to gay I got hurt myself, and I got a long time in hospital." It is evidence of progress that during the last five years 19 new members have joined the Chinese Church, and over £4OO has been contributed by the Chinese themselves for its purposes. A few years ago Auckland Chinese were divided up info five of six different political clubs, but now there are only two of these because many of the members are co-operating with the Chinese Church. The majority of them make their living as fruiterers or gardeners or in laundry work, but there are a few merchants, who import Chinese silks and other materials and wares.

As far as Mr Chau knows, none of the full-blooded Chinese have entered any of the professions here.