Leave Bougainville

Methodist Missionaries

Retire

Rev. And Mrs. A. H. Voyce

Leave Bougainville

After 32 Years

, The Reverend and Mrs. A. H.

Voyce, Methodist missionaries in Bougainville for 32 years, have redred to New Zealand.

THEY were farewelled at Bougain ville mission station in Sep tember, many natives coming 50 miles for some ceremonies. Mr. and Mrs. Voyce were a young couple when they first arrived through the surf at Siwai beach, in southern Bougainville. : In the landing they lost many of their wedding presents.

I In those days they existed almost entirely on native foods. Their mission station’s first boat was a whaleboat bought with the pennies given by New Zealand Sunday school children. f Mr. Voyce was noted by the Bougainville natives for his walking feats. In the early days he would cover 500 miles in a trek, leaving some of his native companions be hind!

The war obliterated the Methodist mission stations on South Bougain ville. Mr. Voyce served as a chaplain with the NZ forces in the Solomons in 1943, but in 1946, with the war over, he was back on Bougainville.

For the next few years the Voyces had a huge task re-establishing contact, and helping the many who needed it as a result of the Japanese occupation.

The Voyces leave behind them a loyal group of 100 catechists, pastors and teachers, and three mission stations at Kieta, Tonu and Kihili.