SOLOMON ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23591, 30 August 1938, Page 11

SOLOMON ISLANDS

MEASLES EPIDEMIC ESCAPED HEALTH OF NATIVES NEVER BETTER WORK OF THE MISSIONARIES (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Aug. 29. “ The health of the natives in the Solomon Islands has never been better,” said the Rev. H. S. Hipkin, who has spent six years in the service of the Melanesian Mission in that section of the Pacific, and who returned by the Southern Cross. He is on his way to England on, furlough, and expects to resume his duties in the Solomons about next April. He spent many years in the Dominion before going down to the Islands. Mr Hipkin said that the natives in this area had been fortunate in escaping the epidemic of measles that had swept many of the other Pacific Islands. The main troubles were the usual Island complaints—ulcers and yaws. Travelling with Mr Hipkin were nine native clergy and brethren who have come down to Auckland for a short holiday and who will return with the Southern Cross after she has passed Lloyd’s survey. Finefeatured, intelligent-looking men, they conduct missionary work in the Islands among their fellows. They were interested in the sight of the city this morning and are looking forward to an interesting time during their stay. Mr Hipkin' explained that practically all of the parish work had been handed over to the native clergy, the Europeans merely acting as supervisors. He himself was in charge of all the work, and had under him 50 native priests and some 700 native teachers. There were about 20 Europeans, who were mainly in the central school and hospitals. The natives were particularly efficient and quick to learn. Mr Hipkin, whose headquarters are at Taroaniaro, on the island of Ngela, in the Solomon Group, spends most of his time visiting the scattered islands of his wide-flung parish by launch. “ Soccer ” and cricket were the favourite games with the islanders, and some of them were particularly fine bowlers. “.In fact.” Mr Hipkin said, “they play really good cricket.” Another arrival to-day by the Southern Cross was Mr A. H. Fletcher, a lay member of the mission. He is responsible for the care of the many launches used by thcmission staff in their circuit of the group.