THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1695, 7 February 1888, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

The Rev, Mr Murray, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand for the purpose of attending the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, addressed large congregations at the Presbyterian Churches of Temuka and Geraldine on Sunday last. 1 the subject of his discourses being 1 " The New Hebrides and their Missions." Among other things Mr Murray stated that the country was very mountainous, the hills in some cases rising to the height of 7000 or 8000 feet. From the water's edge to the summit of these mountains is one dense mass of vegetation. The formation of the islands is for the most part coral, which is of various colors—pink, i white, and red. There are three active volcanoes in the group, one island being called Ambrin, from the root Ambria, which means volcano, j The timber of the islands is principally I kauri and iron, bark, and is generally of a good size. Last year a steam saw mill was started there, but whether it will be a financial success remains to be proved. The principal export of the islands is copra, which is sold in Sydney, London and other parts of the world at from £ls to £2O per ton. Pineapples, cocoanuts, oranges, and lemons are grown. Breadfruit grows in abundance, but its perishable nature 'prevents its exportation. Coffee and sugar can also be profitably grown there. There are no native animals upon the Islands, with the exception of a diminutive species of hog and the native rats. Birds of brilliant plumage there are in abundance. Many of the missionaries have imported goats in order to have a supply of milk, the country being too hilly in most parts for keeping cows, and there being such a small, amount of pasture land available. With regard to the French on the Islands; About four years ago a company was started there called the French and New Hebrides Company. The company established a number of coffee stations, and went in for buying as much land from the natives as they could induce them to part with. After this rose the cry of French interests, and that it was the duty of their Government to see to the welfare of the French subjects. It was said that some of the French subjects had been put to death by the natives and in order, as they averred, to protect the lives and interests of their subjects the Government of New Caledonia established two military posts at the Islands, one at Efete and the other at Malekula. The trouble given to the mission by these soldiers was more possible than real, except in the case of one individual missionary whose station happened to be near one of the camps. The French soldiers used to encroach upon the plantations of the natives, and the missionary supported the latter in their rights. One hundred and twenty of the troops have been removed, and about the same number are still at the Islands. That it would have been a trouble to the missions as a whole if the French had annexed the Islands is certain from the action they have taken with regard to the Fahitian and Loyalty Groups, where the English mission has come to an end. By a convention held in October last it was arranged that the French troops should evacuate the Island in about four months from that date. That would be about the end of February. Whether that arrangement will be carried out remains to be seen. The work of the missions has been carried on for the last fourteen years by the English and Presbyterian Churches, principally Presbyterian. Besides these it is also undertaken by the Polynesian Church. Eight different Presbyterian Churches are engaged in the work, having about fifteen representatives. Within the last year'a number of French Roman Catholic priests came to the Islands. What amount of success may attend their efforts, the short time elapsed will not allow of telling. At present they do not seem to be appreciated by the natives. Originally the work was taken up by the Roman Catholic Church. When the first Presbyterian missionary landed in 1818 a conrent was built at Areitium, under the charge of two or three Roman Catholic priests. The climate being so,tryiDg, and the work to all appearance so unremunerative, the people paying little heed to them and being wholly given over to bloodshed, murder, and various forms of crime, the Roman Catholic priests left about 1850, and had not been there again till last season. There are two dozen Europeans at the Islands, exclusive of troops and missionaries. All the white families included would amount to about about forty families. Ihe | population of the group is about 75,000, having been variously estimated from 50.QQ0 to 100,000. The natives are smaller in stature than the Maoris, darker in complexion, and, Mr Murray believes, an older race, from the fact of their having, unlike the Maoris, no tradition of when, they came. On the southern islands life and property are safe, and where the station has been for soma time, and the island to a certain extent Christianised, the people would do all in their power to aid and make comfortable any castaways that might be are st\\\ }n a state of cannibalism and heathenism, and it would be very dan-' gerous for anyone to be cast ashore on j that part of the islands. The islands i

will probably never be of any commercial value, as they have no mineral wealth, and their exports are such as are to be found in the Fiji Group. The traders are principally English and French. One cause of the New Hebrides being less popular thai the Fiji Group is that they have amoretrying climate, on account of the fever and ague, which seem to be absent in the Windward Islands, The missionaries and natives are often prostrated by fever and ague. Last season was especially trying on account of the enormous rains. Sometimes whole villages would be down with the fever and ague. Every missionary is a medical man, but little or no such skill is required for the fever, a sea voyage being the best cure. In the northern Islands where superstition holds sway, medical skill cannot be exercised to any great extent on account of the superstitious beliefs. The natives will allow no surgical operations to take place, but have a good idea of surgery themselves. In the treatment of wounds they are very clever, having a good knowledge of what is necessary for the cure of sores. In these islands the slightest wound is very dangerous, and has to be Carefully attended to, as unhealthy granulations form and spread till a small sore becomes very hard to heal up. It is the intense heat which makes it hard to induce the skin to take on healthy granulations. A form of leprosy is also prevalent, the skin becoming white, especially about the hands. The disease is a permanent one and no steps are taken to cure it. It does not prevent a native from working. The missionaries often find it exceedingly difficult to obtain a piece of land of any extent from the people owing to the intricacies of the ownership. Sometimes when the village is visited for the first time the chief is treated with for a piece of ground. He will readily sell it and when the missionaries have, settled down they find it belongs to somebody else altogether and they are asked to pay for it over again. The price of land in barter, such as tobacco, blankets, axes, etc, is about £3 per acre. Having purchased the land the soil only is obtained. If the trees are wanted a special provision has to be made to get them. The natives take down the cocoanut, bread fruit, and other trees unless this is done. Each person has his own special trees, which he guards most jealously. They can detect in an instant if a tree has been robbed, and can tell almost to a certainty who has been there by the footprint. This he had seen proved. At eight years of age the children are practically turned adrift to do for themselves, having a house and trees of their own, and also shooting game for their own sustenance. The chief is sacred, and everything he possesses. Whatever he takes a fancy to he can also make sacred to his own use and annex. On account of his sacredness he has to cook his own food and live by himself. Mr Murray went on to give a most interesting account of these Islands and was listened to with rapt attention. He left for the South by the express train yesterday.