T.I.’S Many Visitors

From Our Own Correspondent

Thursday Island, Dec. 2.

A number of interesting visitors have been on the Island lately, and have helped to liven up the place. In an isolated commu nity like this, new faces are welcome, and the interchange of impressions and ideas very beneficial to both parties.

Amongst them is Professor Watson, of Adelaide, a self-confessed lover of the tropics, who seems to have for once deserted Darwin in favour of T.I. The professor is 83 years of age and as lively as a two-year-old. He has a tremendous stock of stories, profes sional and otherwise, gleaned in a long life, and no doubt he will be adding to them by his studies of humanity on this island.

Thursday Island has always been a fertile source of “stories.”

School-inspector Moorhouse paid us a visit during November and was able to make a round of some of the islands in which he is much interested. The thoughtful official, who can get an intelligent and sympathetic grip of some of the special problems of Torres Straits, is always welcome here. We expect to hear of some changes, which will give local satisfaction as a result of Mr Moor house’s visit.

A lively party from New Guinea, who came over for the express purpose of infusing a bit of life into Thursday Island, achieved their purpose in true New Guinea style. They are always welcome and we hope they wiil come again.

Miss Birkett, an enterprising Bundaberg journalist, has made a special pilgrimage to the island of pearls, goats and New Guinea boys. Doubtless we shall later on be featured in southern papers as a tribe of lotus-eaters and we are looking forward to seeing Miss Birkett’s impressions in print.