Samoans Find £5,000 for
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
L.M.S.
From Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, February 12.
AT the annual “May meeting-” of the L.M.S. Mission, at which funds for the Mission work are obtained all over the islands, £5,000 was collected from the natives of Upolu and Savaii.
To secure this large amount in these bad times, when the Samoans are very short of cash, was a hard and difficult task, and it seems the Samoans were very reluctant to contribute. The Mis sion had, however, told the natives that the districts which failed to contribute their share would have their native teachers withdrawn and the Samoans paid. It is reported, however, that in some cases the natives told the Mission representative that they could not pay next time, as they had at present barely enough to buy the necessities of life.
The adherence of natives to the church seems to weaken, as cases of devil worship, superstition and revival of old pre-Christian customs are re ported, so that the Mission has had to discipline a number of native teachers.