MISSION NEWS.

Waiapu Church Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 February 1908, Page 13

MISSION NEWS.

The Jubilee of the British Columbia Mission. — Fifty years ago, on the night of the Ist of October, 1857, William Duncan landed at Fort Simpson. British Columbia. He had travelled by H.M.S. Satellite, under the command of Captain Prevost, at whose instance he had been sent out, and who gave him a free passage. Nine months had elapsed since he sailed from Plymouth, but three of them had been spent waiting at Victoria, Vancouver, for an opportunity of completing his journey, a further 500 miles up the coast. The Hudson Bay Company's officers strongly objected to "his proceeding. He would

find no possibility of contact with the Indians. The servants of the Company lived surrounded by a blockade, within which no Indian was admitted, and to go outside it would be at the risk of his life. Such were the conditions of life on the Pacific coast half a century ago, and such the relations between the white men and the red. In August last, at Prince Rupert, close to Metlakahtla of missionary fame, where the beginnings have been made of what is expected to be a great city, for it is to be the terminus of the Grand Trunk Railway, Bishop Dv Vernet held the second Synod of the diocese of Caledonia. He reported that he had confirmed during 'the previous year 121 candidates. Few Heathen now remain m the diocese, and the descendants of those wild and ferocious Indians are civilised and prosperous m a high degree. The Dominion Government lately purchased from them a considerable acreage of their reserves for public purposes, and over ninety-five per cent of the Indians who received the money opened savings bank accounts therewith. One Indian woman who lately died left forty dollars to each church m the diocese.