100 Years ' Mission in Rotuma

ON November 12, 1839, the Rev. John Williams of the London Missionary Society called at the island of Rotuma, north of Fiji, and left a number of Samoan mission teachers. Seven days later, when he landed in the New Hebrides, he was murdered by the natives there. The Samoan teachers were shortly afterwards replaced by Tongan teachers from the Wesleyan Missionary Society, which has carried on missionary work in Rotuma up to the present time.

It is stated by Rev. O. W. Furness, in the “Australian Christian World”, that steps are being taken to celebrate the completion of 100 years of missionary work on Rotuma. Official celebrations took place on July 21 at Oinasa, the village where the Rev. John Williams landed 100 years ago. This was done so that the function might coincide with the official visit of the Governor to the island. There will be further celebations on the actual date of the centenary—namely, November 12, 1939.

Captain Peter John Petersen, a well known figure in the Australian coastal trade, died in Sydney at the end of Sep tember, aged 79. Prior to 1910 he spent many years on trading vessels in the South Seas; latterly, he was engaged in the N.S.W. coal trade with R. W. Miller and Co., Ltd., of Sydney.