BOARD OF MISSIONS

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XX, Issue 4, 1 October 1929, Page 4

BOARD OF MISSIONS

Samoa.— The Rev. A. C Hobson who was "lent" by his parish m Oxford (England) to the Diocese of Polynesia for a year, has sp?nt several months working amongst the white residents of Samoa. He has found the Anglican church-people there so responsive and so desirous of .having a settled vicar that, the Bishop is anxious to get a priest who. will stay for several years. The Bishop's Commissary (Rev. F. B. Redgrave, Fendalton, Christchurch) will be pleased to hear of anyone who will volunteer for this work. Captain Watson. — For several months past Capt. Watson, the founder of the Duplex system of Church finance, lias been having a strenuous time m addressing meetings m several of the Australian States. He arrives m N.Z. on October 7. which will enable him to visit the Synods m Napier, Auckland and Christchurch. As the result of his visit to -'the "Dominion two years ago about 40 parishes have adopted Duplex. Wherever the system has been given a fair trial satisfactory results have been obtained. One parish reports an increase of 60 per cent, on the receipts for home purposes ana over 100 per cent for missions, whilst several others have benefitted to about the same extent. Movement of Missionaries.— Miss X. Hurley has left N.Z. for India, where she is to be married to the Rev. H. F. Ault, who is now stationed at Karachi. Miss E. Cordell. who had a very strenuous time m nursing infantile paralysis patients at Sioato, m the Solomons, has come to N.Z. for a complete rest. The Rev. R. and Mrs. Godfrey, after spending part of their furlough m Australia, where an attack of malaria prevented Mr. Godfrey from doing deputation work — are arriving shortly to spend several months m the Dominion. During their absence from Melanesia the Training College at Lolowai (New Hebrides) has been temporarily closed. Miss Margaret Young, at present on the staff of the Diocesan School m Hamilton, leaves for South India on January 17 to be the first principal of the high school for girls that is being established m the Dornakal Diocese. "Century" Parishes. — For the past financial year there were 53 "Century" parishes. Nelson Cathedral, with ft total of £548, for the fourth year m succession headed the list. Four parishes — Timaru, Otane, Havelock North and Napier Cathedral — exceeded £300. The following eight passed the £200 mark: St. Mark's (Reumera),

Christchurch Cathedral, Merivale, Si- • Mary's (Parneil), Palmerston North, Hastings, Puketapu and St. Mark's (Wellington). No less than 40 others had the distinction of exceeding £100. Of these 10 were m the Wellington Dioces,e, 9 m Christchurch 7 m Waiapu, 7 m Auckland 3 m Dunedin, 2 m Nelson and 2 m Waikato. Local Chinese Mission.— Mr. Wong, who came to the Dominion strongly recommended by a former missibner (Rev. E. Y. P. Lee), has now been m charge of the mission for a year, and is giving complete satisfaction to the Wellington Committee. His work, however, has been made very difficult by the return to China of the majority of the Christian Chinese. The ambition of every Chinaman m the Dominion seems to be to retine and live m China as soon as he is m an independent financial position. As it usually takes several years before the Chinese coming to the Dominion are sufficiently influenced by the mission to ask for Baptism and Confirmation, it generally happens that they only remain a fe> more years m New Zealand. One steamer recently took away no fewer than eight of the Sunday-school scholars, whilst by the next boat the Mission lost Mr. D. J. Kwoin, who during the interregnum between the death of the Rev. Norman Mackenzie and the arrival of Mr Wong, made himself responsible for maintaining the services. Of the Chinese communicants who two years ago contributed £50 for the Boards funds, only one is left m the Dominion. Recently the first Christian Chinese wedding m N.Z. for many years was .solemnised m the Mission Church m Wellington.