TAKEN BY BANDITS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 11

TAKEN BY BANDITS

MISSIONARIES IN CHINA AUCKLANDER MISSING LONG EXPERIENCE A recent Press Association message from Shanghai stated that the China Inland Mission reported that there was no trace of the three missionaries who were kidnapped on October 9, one of whom was Mr. A. Hayman, a native of Auckland. The bandits with their captives were last seen making toward the Szechwan Province. Mr. Hayman lias been engaged in mission activities since 1913. He was in charge of the mission at Kweiyang. A previous message said despatches received at the British Legation, Pekin, from Chungking, reported the capture by Communists of three foreign missionaries belonging to the China Inland Mission. The other two prisoners are a Swiss, M. Rabosshardt, and an American, Miss G emblem. AIR. HA YAIAN’S CAREER Air. Hayman, who is about 43, was bora in Ceylon and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age. After living in Christchurch for a short time, they moved to Auckland, where Mr. Hayman was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. On completing his education lie joined the staff of Smith and Oaughey, Limited. Air. Hayman left Auckland for Adelaide to receive a training for the mission fields and in 1913 he left Australia to join the China Inland Mission. A tew years after his arrival in China he married Aliss Ruth Matheson, of Sydney, a fellow-missionary. In 1983 Air. and Airs. Hayman came to New Zealand on furlough, but shortly after tnkingi up their duties again in China Airs. Hayman died. A few years later Air. Hayman married Aliss Rlioda Johnston, of England, who was also engaged in the mission fields. In 1932 Air. Hayman received his second furlough. Leaving China lie and Mrs. Hayman journeyed through Russia to England and later paid a visit to New Zealand. STATION FAR FROM COAST Air. Hayman is in charge of the mission station at Kwcilang, in the province of Kweichow, which is a considerable distance from the coast. There he was living with his wife and their two young children. Air. Hayman’s four children by his first marriage arc all attenling the China Inland Alission school at Cliefoo. In a letter written on August 28, which his brother, Mr. L. T. Hayman, of Birkenhead, received, Air. Hayman said: “It is reported that the Communists have taken Szenan, a town some five days’ journey away. We prayerfully trust that this menace will be put down. If the Reds come here we will have to decamp. More than one missionary has

lost his life at their hands, besides many Chinese Christians. It is not .sufficient for them to bo driven out of one province into another, for they will only there make trouble.’’ In another letter written about three months ago Air. Hayman said the mission station had been robbed by bandits, who had stolon all his money and personal effects. In other letters lie has referred to the trouble that the Reds and bandits had brought to the area trolled—an area equal to the North Island of New Zealand.