Rev. Arthur A. Bensley (1884-1974) was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was the first New Zealand Methodist Minister appointed to the Solomon Islands, taking over Bilua Station, at Vella Lavella, Bougainville, from Rev. Reginald Nicholson in 1921 and remaining at the station till 1934. He met and married Sister Constance Olds there. He mastered the Bilua language and did a great deal of translation work. For six years, he edited the NZ Methodist Mission's children's paper, Lotu. Following his retirement from the Methodist Mission in the Solomon Islands he held ministries in Morrinsville, Greymouth and Tauranga in New Zealand. He was supernumerary from 1950.

Diary (original Ms.,.)<BR> 17 May 1926-27 Jul 1931(2 vols.)<BR> 1 May-15 Dec 1934 (Pt. 1 vol.)<BR>10 Sep-27 Dec ? (loose pages)<BR>Transcript of diary and index, 17 Aug 1926-27 Jul 1931, 1 May-15 Dec 1934<P><b>See reel list for further details</b>