Learning White Man’s Ways.

Torres Islands Natives.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., Oct. 31.

THE deputy Chief Protector of Abori ginals (Mr. C. O’Leary) arrived from Brisbane a fortnight ago, to allow the local Protector to take his furlough, and also to visit the various islands in Torres Strait.

Conditions in the Strait have changed considerably during the last few years, and are still changing.

The islander is now much more ad vanced in general knowledge; and par ticularly in the working of the island fishing cutters and luggers. These are the property of the natives, bought and paid for by themselves, and held in trust by the Aboriginal Department.

The native follows the trocus and shell markets keenly, and always anxiously enquires whether affairs in China are affecting his beche-de-mer sales ad

versely. So that, with these and a good many other questions affecting working conditions, payments, trading, and where he shall purchase his own requirements—at the stores in T. I. or the Aboriginal Stores at Badu—there are generally some problems that re quire careful judgment and handling on the part of the officials.

The boys who engage for service in the luggers which work down as far as Townsville and other places see much more of civilisation than they used to, and the same thing applies also to the native-owned vessels which seek marine produce along the Barrier. News papers circulate in the islands, brought back by the boys, and they are not un aware of the upheavals that are occur ring in commercial and political life, The Aboriginal Office in Brisbane, therefore, requires to be in close touch with the people of the islands, and as the Deputy-Chief Protector was here as Protector for a number of years, his present visit will be of increased use fulness. At present, he is visiting the eastern group of Torres Strait islands, in the Government ketch "Melbider."