The Solomons
p. 14 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent.
TULAGI, September 19.
ALTHOUGH the “Montoro” has a cargo capacity of some 4-5,000 sacks of copra more than the “Mat aram,” she was taxed to the utmost on her initial voyage to these parts, and cleared port jammed to the hatches with copra.
On her return from south, in Sep tember, however, she presented a top heavy appearance with a mere 300 tons of merchandise scattered throughout her holds —the require ments of the entire group—a new “low” record for recent years.
With the demand for labour at the vanishing point, recruiters are now seeking orders openly at the reduced rate of £9 per head, and they are expatriating time-expired labourers at the rate of £1 per head, and seem to like it.
Another old timer in the person of Mr. W. Heritage, returned recently to take charge of the W. R. Carpen ter interests in this vicinity. Mr.
Heritage in recent years has been guarding the same interests success fully in New Guinea Territory.
Gastric 'flu has been raging here to some purpose Most of the white people have been stricken with the malady, but without serious conse quences, although it made them mis erable enough whilst it ran its course.
Native labourers were, of course, afflicted in a big way and more than 20 per cent, of a gang was seldom available at a time. There were few deaths, however.