P.W.M.U.—AN INTERESTING ADDRESS.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 3 August 1928, Page 4

P.W.M.U. —AN INTERESTING ADDRESS.

On Monday afternoon the travelling secretary of the Presbyterian Women’; Missionary Union, Miss McKee, gam an interesting address in the Kno.. Church, Patea, on the work of the society among the Maoris and the b-aci. blocks districts of New Zealand. Misi McKee also spoke on ‘ ‘ heathenism, 1 giving a graphic description of conditions among the heathens in India am China. For instance, she slated that in India, when a husband died, two or more of his widows were burden alive with him. She cited the case where a native of high rank died amt the most -beautiful of his young wive;, was thrown into the grave with him tc guard his spirit. Two more wives who were doomed to the same fate escapee into the jungle, but were recapture;; and clubbed and driven into the grave and buried alive also.

Again, in speaking of the mission aides ’ work in China, whore girl habit, wore not 'wanted and were buries, alive or killed, she told of a case ir. ■which the grandmother of a baby girl, after unsuccessfully trying to kill her. ■buried her alive. One of the missionary’s little boys, whilst playing on a hillside, discovered a tiny foot showing above the ground, and immediately told of his discovery. The child ? when unearthed, proved to be still alive, and was looked after and educated by the Irish-Prcsbytcrian Mission. She was now studying medicine in England and by the end of this year hoped to become .a fully qualified doctor. Slu was then going out to work in the district where her mother and . grandmother were still living. During the afternoon Mesdanies Masters and Pauling sang very sweetly, whilst a. dainty afternoon tea, dispensed by the Ladies’ Guild, also added to the enjoyment of all.