Crusade Into Interior

Of New Guinea

Melanesian Mission’s Venture

TWO young churchmen, Rev. W, R.

Castles (a New Zealander) and an Englishman who was recently ordained, have been chosen by the Bishop of Mela nesia (Rev. W. H. Baddeley), who is at present in England, to commence work at the end of 1936 among the primitive tribes in Northern New Guinea.

Two other Melanesian missionaries, Rev. C. V. Voss, of Broken Hill, and Rev.

J. Barge, of Toowoomba, who are now in New Britain, have also offered to serve in this new area, and probably will be called on later.

This crusade will be financed by the supporters of the mission in England. A fund, with the object of raising £5,000, was opened early last year; at the end of December £1,700 had been subscribed.

Originally the Mission proposed to pur chase an aeroplane for use in the interior, but the plans have been modified, and the churchmen will proceed to the area by Guinea Airways ’planes.

Interviewed in London, Bishop Bad deley said that the missionaries would probably fly to one of the farthest land ing grounds, and then push on into the jungle and establish a base camp. Their real task would then begin, for they

would be venturing into trackless and practically unknown country, where only a few of the natives, estimated at 200,000 strong, have met white persons.

“Our missionaries will be the first to penetrate this new territory,” he said.

“Their task will be difficult, but not more difficult than in the early days of the Solomon Islands mission, because the people are of similar type.”

Mrs. K. D. Bignell, of Fulakora Plan tation, Ysabel Island, returned to the Solomons by the Malaita on January 9, after several months’ holiday in Sydney.