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FINKE MISSION STATION
ABANDONED,
The Minister controlling the Northern
Territory (the Hon. P. W. Holder, MP.) bes
received the annnal report from Pastor (i. A.
Heidenreioh, Superintendent of the Finite
Mission Station, in tho MaoDonnell Ranges.
In the report he expresses his regret that the
Mission Association of Hermannsburg are on
able to oontinue the station and Mission, owing
to the very large annual subsidies heretofore
subscribed by private persons having been
discontinued. Notwithstanding the annual
grant of £200 voted by Parliament, the
revenue of the Mission for the last eighteen
months was insufficient to the extent of £907
5s. 2d. to defray the outlay of £2,333
19s. lid. during the some period.
Despite the falliug-off in fnnds, no de
ductions were made in the usual allowances
and provisions to the natives, and theeame
attention to their personal welfare and comfort
was paid as in the past. His mission has
been compelled to abandon the work
of civilization amongst the natives at
a time when considerable progress haB
been mado. Unless the work is continued
by some other mission, the work done will
become fruitless. - The drought whioh pre
vailed during 1393 caused more than usual ill
ness on the station, and the missionaries par
ticularly suffered. The garden, whioh was
I established some fifteen or twenty yearB ago,
yielded little or no fruit, and vegetables oould
I not be grown during any part of the season
! through want of rain. In January, however,
nearly 9 inches fell, and although the tress
only btnrely reoovered. all other vegetation
revived,and considerable quantities of
melons, f potatoes, cabbages, onions, and
other vegetables were grown. The natives
! have lived at the station with wives
and families in peaoe sod harmony,
and have done as usual muoh work in and
about the station gardens and bnil lings. The
attendance at Qhnrdh prayers and school of
the natives has been satisfactory ; bat owing
[ to the work of abandonment at the station
having been in progress' for the last six
months," the spiritual work has not received
that attention which was of paramount im
portance. -Two .natives—one adult and one
obild-Haiid one infant were. the deaths re
corded: qiiring the eighteen months. In that
time thpy: expended £340 in the sinking of
wells and tasking of dams, and were snoceasful
in opening a; spring supplying 1,40<1-Wdj
of cattle daily. In the immediate vioinity I
thereof they Greeted large stookyards to yard
1,209 head of cattle. To-summarize the work
of the station, they -have spent upwards of
£6,000 in buildings, improvements, and mate
rials, apd.with the limited means at their dis
posal tliey have :euocessfu)ly' conducted the
small oniony of natives, which varied in num
bers from 80 to 120.
$