The Solomon Islands Mission

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11, 16 March 1905, Page 6

The Solomon Islands Mission

Veiv Rev. Father E. Bertre/aux, Prefect Apostolic of th<? Southern Solomon Islands, who is on a visit to Australia, relates (says uhe ' Freeman's Journal ') how a massacre was averted in October last. It was at Loongoo, 6ii the south-west of Gaudalcanar. Several bush boys returned from Queensland, and were landed with their boxes. Father Chatelet protected tfiem against the coast natives, who, in revenge, organised a conspiracy by wriiih a hundred natives were to attack the station and murder the priest. Father Chatelet, having been warned, armed converts with old guns, and the natives retreated. Mr. Woodford, the Commissioner, suppressed the trouble by arresting the ringleaders. Father Bertreaux said that the Marist mission station a t Ru a Sura, an island oft Gaudalcanar, was established six years* .ago, and since then they had established five stations in various parts of the adjacent islands. These stations are in charge of piiests, of whom there are nine now engaged in the work ; also two Sisters of the Thirtf Order of M'a;ry. The natives treat the whites as friends, anpcl everything is now going smoothly. Last year alone 500 converts were made. Since the arrival of the Sisters 200 native women have been received into the Church. Father Bertreaux is visiting Sydney for theipurpoacr of having the Bible and other religious liter-, ature printed in t/he native language.