p. 16 | Australasian Missionary College by Bertha S. Chaney

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1914

Australasian Missionary College

By Bertha S. Chaney

THE school year of the Australasian Missionary College begins about the middle of January. At that time of year the weather is usually very hot, and continues to be warm during almost the entire first quarter. This year the heat was made less bearable by lack of water. For months not an inch of rain had fallen, and as the day for the opening of the school drew near, the fresh water supply became a serious problem. Tanks were empty and cisterns reduced to their last few inches.

The first seven weeks were a long struggle. Water had to be carted in iron tanks over a mile in the bullock wagon. It was brought from the upper waters of Dora Creek, where the water was not so brackish. The use of water for cooking and bathing purposes was restricted to the lowest possible limit. The gardens dried up, and the bare, brown paddocks furnished but scant food for the animals.

With what gladness and gratitude was the rain welcomed when the silvery showers began to fall! The marvelous latent resources of Australia were soon evident. One would scarcely believe without actually seeing it how quickly every dry root and plant and blade of grass sprang into new life. Rainy days and hot sunny ones have alternated with each other until the country is all like a garden.

Notwithstanding the apparent handicap at the beginning, the college work has gone on very successfully during the first quarter. Both the school homes are full of students, and the entire enrollment of home and day students is over one hundred and eighty.

A number of important improvements are being made, which will not only lessen the running expenses of the college, but in some departments will make the work much easier for the students. The electric lighting plant has heretofore been connected with the factory, but a suction gas plant is being installed, which will furnish the electric power for lighting and other purposes. The electric power will be used for turning the steam washer, for ironing, and for other pumping. As all the building work is done by students outside of school hours, it takes time to get these things into operation. But every day sees good progress being made. We are glad to say also that arrangements are being made for insuring a more dependable supply of water.

The long-vexed question of student labor has recently been settled. For more than a year there have been difficulties with the state department of labor and industry in regard to the wages awards for the work done by students in the different departments. In February a decision was made in favor of the college, to the effect that the students are not "to be classed as employees within the meaning of the act." Being thus exempted from the labor awards, the college will be far less restricted in its ability to give work to needy young people than it would have been had it been necessary to live up to all the specifications of the awards. In fact, it would have been nearly impossible to run some departments, and upon this work many students depend for their support in school.

Together with these many temporal blessings and prosperities we are also grateful for spiritual ones. The very best interest is shown in the missionary meetings held on Wednesday evening, and in the young people's social meeting on Friday evening. Prayer bands for the younger members are held in the homes by those more advanced in experience, and a real growth in grace is seen. BERTHA S. CHANEY.