Isles Of Tragedy

Catholic Missions in the Solomons

By H. Trevor Fairbrother, in “New Zealand Herald”

THE murder by Japanese of members of the Marist Mission at Ruavatu (a point nearly central on the northern coast of Guadalcanal) adds one more tragedy to the history of this mission in the Solomon Islands. The first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Solomons, Bishop Epalle, and most members of his mission, were killed either by natives or tropical disease.

It was in 1845 that the French mis sion of the Society of Mary, consisting of six fathers and five lay brothers, under the direction of Bishop Epalle, landed on San Cristoval. While the party was visiting Ysabel the bishop was murdered there by natives and the party returned to San Cristoval. Two years later the mission was abandoned, after the murder of three more members and the deaths of others, and was not re established until 50 years later.

Until the Melanesian Mission, which has also had its martyrs, began opera tions in the ’fifties, no other attempt was made to Christianise the Group. To a field like the Solomons, volunteers go pre pared to give their lives.

American Bishop Detained

THE Marist Mission was initiated from France and most of the members were French, although latterly Eng lish-speaking priests and sisters have been introduced. Bishop Wade, of the Northern Solomons (Bougainville, etc.), is an American. He is now confined to the Roman Catholic station near Rabaul, having remained with his charges at the evacuation.

Ruavatu consists of a native village, a trading station and small plantation, the mission station and a large plantation belonging to Levers Pacific Plantations.

The anchorage, while open, offers a little more protection than most on this coast.

The present bishop of the Southern Solomons, Bishop Aubin, was consecrated at St. Mary of the Angels, Wellington, and prior to that he was priest in charge at Ruavatu. In caring for his parish he travelled either on foot in the mountains and along the coastal track if the wea ther was rough, or steering a small skiff towed by schoolboys or villagers along the sandy beach to the next village. Between Ruavatu and Tasimboko, to the west, is a large river, the Bokokimbo, infested with crocodiles.

Cathedral Station

AFTER Veisali, Ruavatu is probably the largest of the 80-odd stations of the Roman Catholic Church on Guadal canal.

Veisali, at the north-western end, is the head station. The cathedral there was destroyed by an earthquake about 1927 and was replaced by one of the largest wooden churches in the world. It would be well in sight of the recent naval battle around Savo Island and can not be far from the Japanese landing “west of the American position.”

Mr. A. Cookson, Acting Administrative Officer in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (Hull Island) and Mr. T. R. Cowell, Act ing AO at Fanning Island, are now Deputy Commissioners for the Western Pacific.