In and About the Islands

Dr. E. J. Ryan, Medical Officer at Kavieng Hospital, New Ireland, is in Sydney on leave. Owing to an attack of pleurisy, he has had to postpone his return to the Islands.

Capt. J. Duncan, of Rapopo Plantation, New Britain, is in Sydney.

Mrs. E. A. Wisdom, wife of the Ad ministrator of the Mandated Territory, has been seriously ill here. She hopes to leave for New Guinea shortly.

Dr. T. Brennan, Director of Public Health, New Guinea, has been in Sydney for some months, taking a post-graduate course at the University, and is now going on long leave. He is accompanied by his wife and two daughters.

Mr. G. Ingels, who has been pros pecting for gold in the Sepik River dis trict of New Guinea, on behalf of the North-east New Guinea Gold Co., N.L., has returned to Sydney.

Mr. Travers Black, of Nakanai Min ing Co., Ltd., was a passenger to Sydney by the July “Montoro.” His party of white men was the first to visit Nakanai since 1926, when four prospectors were speared to death by natives. Accompanying Mr. Black to Sydney was Mr. J. Thurston, a member of the prospecting expedition on that occasion, who escaped, after being badly wounded.

Mr. W. B. Ball, Assistant District In spector, New Guinea, has returned to the Territory, after furlough.

Mr. P. Veyret, representative of the Noumea Tourist Bureau, returned to Noumea by the “Moeraki,” in August, after a business tour in Australia.

Mr. J. A. d’Alpuget, of Fiji, also sailed from Sydney by the “Moeraki.”

Miss Olive Russell, of Victoria, has left for Fiji on behalf of the Methodist Mission Society. She is to be stationed at Lautoka.

Rev. M. K. Gilmour, chairman of the Papuan district of the Methodist Mis sionary Society, accompanied by Mrs.

Gilmour, travelled back to the Terri tory by the July “Montoro.” Miss Trudinger, of South Australia, who has been appointed to New Britain for the Society, was also a passenger on the steamer.

Father Thomas James Wade, S.M., has been created first Roman Catholic Archbishop of the new Vicariate Apos tolic of North Solomon Islands, which has recently been raised from a Pre fecture Apostolic. Bishop Wade has been an island missionary for seven years and, until recently, was stationed at Temanmanu, in the Solomon Islands. The new bishop will be con secrated by the Papal Delegate (Arch bishop Cattaneo) in about a month’s time.

Sir Murchison Fletcher, Governor of Fiji, and Lady Fletcher, left Sydney by the Ventura on August 9, for Fiji.

Mr. C. H. Parker, a missionary from Atchin, off the island of Malekula, New Hebrides, returned here by the s.s.

La Perouse on August 9. He is pro ceeding to Melbourne to attend a con ference of Seventh Day Adventists.

Mr. E. P. Cohen sailed for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga on August 9. He represents over 30 Australian exporting

houses, and as he has been carrying their samples along the same track for over 30 years, he probably is the best known man in the South Seas. It is said of him that he has Seen clubbed by Samoans, lured by dusky princesses, admitted to the secret rites of Fijians, and eaten by cannibals; but his cheery smile still makes him a welcome visi tor in the remote stores of Taviuni or Haapai. He says he will write a book on his experiences, when he gets tired and retires probably on present appearances about 1950.