About Islands People.

Mr. F. N. Ashley. Resident Commis sioner in the Solomon Islands Protec torate, is expected to arrive in Sydney in June. It is reported that Mr. Ash ley’s term in the Solomons will expire shortly and that he returns to London.

He succeeded Mr. R. R. Kane some 3 years ago. It is expected that Mr. N.

S. B. Kidson will take charge as Acting Resident Commissioner.

Mr. F. R. Jolley, formerly in charge of expropriated estates in New Guinea, and later managing director of the Melanesia Company, has returned to Sydney, to take up his permanent resi dence there—probably at Clifton Gar dens.

Captain C. R. Pinney, who has been appointed Administrator and Chief Magistrate of Norfolk Isliand, from May 1, at a salary of £800 per annum and allowances, is at present Commis sioner for Lands, Director of Agricul ture, and Director of Mines in the Ter ritory of Papua. He is also a member of the Executive and Legislative Coun cils of Papua.

Mr. O. F. Nelson, of Samoa, after a brief visit to Sydney, left for New Zealand by the “Niagara,” on March 31.

Mr. J. M. Wilson, the Collector of Customs at Suva, returned to Fiji by the “Niagara” on March 31.

Mr. L. Reynaud, who recently arrived in Sydney from France, sailed for Nou mea on April 2 by the “Laperouse” to take up the post of private secretary to the Governor of New Caledonia.

Mr. J. Cochet, general manager of Messageries Maritimes in Australia, has returned to Sydney after a tour of inspection in New Caledonia.

Mr. F. R. Cawley, resident magis trate, Delta Division, Papua, arrived in Sydney early in April on short leave of absence.

Mr. R. T. Jolley, who has been man aging plantations in the Solomon Is lands for San Christoval Estates Ltd., arrived in Sydney by the “Templar” early in April, and has gone on to the firm’s headquarters in Melbourne.

Captain W. Brooke-Howard, who was a passenger to Sydney early in April by the “Comorin,” is travelling to New Caledonia and other parts of the South Seas on business.

Mr. H. L. Downing, of the New Guinea Administrative service, returned to duty on the Morobe goldfields by the “Macdhui,” after short leave in Sydney. It was a “ ’busman’s holiday” for this enthusiastic amateur photog rapher; his excellent New Guinea photographs have been seen lately in most of Australia’s leading publica tions.

Mr. H. A. Ross, formerly Government storekeeper in Papua, now retired, sailed early in April from Sydney for London, where he will reside in future.

Mr. R. f. Thomson, well-known in connection with the Solomon Islands Administration, who had been spending some time in Australia, returned to the group recently.

Mr. F. P. Archer, a well-known and successful New Guinea planter, who had been spending short leave in Aus tralia, left Sydney by the “Tanda” on April 13 for Queensland. He returns to his plantations at Buka, New Guinea, early in May.

Mr. Tom Nevitt, a well-known resi dent of Papua, returned to the Terri tory by the “Macdhui,” early in April, after a short visit to Australia.

Dr. G. H. Vernon.— -A medical man with a wide diversity of pursuits is Dr.

G. H. Vernon, medical officer at the Thursday Island Hospital. Dr. Vernon is not one of those dilettante who take all knowledge for their province but is a keen student of everything which captures his attention. A physician of some distinction professionally, his in terests extend to subjects as far apart as geographical exploration and an thropology. Between his various re searches he still finds time to indulge in his favourite sport of sailing and there are few islands in the Straits which he has not visited at one time or another. Like most of those who have lived for a few years in the Para dise that is Australia’s tropical North, he has now come to look upon those parts as his nermanent home. A former member of the A.I.F., he is a keen sportsman and lends his practical as sistance to every form of sport which flourishes on Thursday Island, the Aquatic Club having always the first claim upon him. Dr. Vernon’s lean, sun-tanned figure is as well known amongst the other islands of the Straits, where he spends every avail able moment of his leave, as it is on Thursday Island. In the midst of all these varied interests, he dabbles in music, painting and writing, reads everything new as it comes from the publishers, all of which contribute to lighten somewhat the life which is the lot of a bachelor in the Tropics.— “Tinea.”

Mr. Geoffrey E. Clift, of Ruanuu Estates, Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, returned from Sydney to the Solomons by the last “Mataram.” 18 Bold Caps 13g ems