Tropicalities

THOSE people who argue that British Administrative establishments are over-staffed with clerks who do much unnecessary work, should see the number of documents which came to the hand of the Editor of this news paper, in connection with the despatch to him from Tahiti of a small bottle of specially-prepared coconut oil. It was sent along to us to show the scope and enterprise of a small factory in Tahiti; but, in order that it might pass the of ficial barriers in Tahiti, and climb the well-guarded tariff wall in Australia, it was necessary that this small article, worth about fourpence, should be ac companied by no less than four docu ments filled in with elaborate detail—all stamped, sealed, signed and delivered.

Apparently, both the Post Office and the Customs Department at Tahiti had a finger in the pretty pie. We sometimes argue that the Australian Public Service is very skilled in making work for it self; but if it wants any further fine points in the art, we can unhesitatingly refer it to the French officials of Tahiti.

OLD traditions die hard. There is a story which still persists that the well-known “Quetta” Memorial Ca thedral at Thursday Island, erected to commemorate the tragic wreck of the B.I. steamer “Quetta” in 1890, was built out of timber from the wrecked ship, and that the windows were once the steamer’s portholes. As the building is of concrete, this is, of course, incorrect, although there are a number of relics from the ship set up in various parts of the church. Just the other day, how ever, a party of tourists walked into the Parish Hall (which is of timber) by mistake, and an American voice was heard proclaiming to the party that "this little old church was built,” etc.

When one of the office staff within the building had sufficiently recovered, she was able to slip out and interrupt the lecturette by guiding the party to the actual building a few yards away. * * * IT is considered very likely that when Brigadier-General A. E. Wisdom’s term as Administrator of New Guinea finally expires on June 30 next, his out standing services to Australia as Ad ministrator of the Mandated Territory, will be rewarded with a knighthood. We have reason to believe that the name of Brigadier-General Wisdom has been in the list noted for titular honours for some time. It probably will not appear in the list of New Year honours, but it should be in the Birthday Honours.

Very flattering things about the record of Brigadier-General Wisdom in New Guinea were said in the Federal Parlia ment during the various debates on the New Guinea Bill—and all those who know anything of the record and achievements of the Administrator dur ing his eleven years in the tropics will heartily endorse the praises that were showered upon him. * * * CROWN jewels, shipped in a kerosene box and lying around unclaimed, seem a little bizarre; but that is what happened to the crown of Queen Salote, of Tonga. The crown was

shipped from Auckland to Nukualofa, but failed to arrive. As the opening of Parliament was due, the non-appear ance of the emblem caused a little con cern in Tonga. When he arrived in Tonga, Sir George Richardson was in formed that an unclaimed box was lying at the Customs. Inside the box was the missing crown, which was hastily de spatched to Queen Salote. The crown has not carried a full complement of jewels for some time. * * * THE proposal to raise the annual sub scriptions from 10/6 to 21/- was ap proved at a general meeting of mem bers of the Pacific Islands’ Association held in Sydney on December 14. The attendance, necessarily, was small, but a large number of proxies were received.

All the members who communicated with the committee, by letter or proxy, approved of the proposal, except two, who expressed strong opposition. Mr.

Bruce Rainsford and Mr. R. W. Robson, who moved and seconded the new rule, expressed regret that it was necessary to increase the subscription, but a year’s experience had shown that no tangible benefits, beyond an expression of pious hopes, could be given if the subscription remained at 10/6. But by raising the amount to £1/1/-, and completing the agreement with the Millions Club, all members visiting Sydney would auto matically receive the full facilities of the Millions Club; adequate clerical assistance would be secured; and the committee, having got its domestic affairs into order, would now be able to push on with wider and more effective organisation. This would include the formation of branches in the various islands centres, and the preparation of remits to the central body, dealing with matters of common interest to Islands residents. The new arrangement oper ates from January 1. * * * THE following letter, from Mr. J. E.

Mathews, of Fauro, B.S.I., explains itself. The photograph was supplied by an American agency, and, as usual, the title appears to have been wrong: I hope you won’t think me over-critical, but I would point out to you that the sailing canoe illustrated on the cover of your August number, and described as being built by the coast-dwellers of New Guinea, is in reality a “tepukai,” used by the Reef Islanders, of Santa Cruz.

They are chiefly built in the Duff Group (Taumaco), where the natives seem to be natural shipwrights and riggers, and where there are regular shipyards. After construction, they are sailed to the other islands of the Group— Sta Cruz, Reef Islands and Tapua. They are rigged with a heart or shield-shaped lateen, boomed out from the central superstructure, the sail having a long stick or yard laced down each side, one stick being longer than the other, and fitting into a socket in the cleats shown at either end of the deck. The outrigger is always kept to windward when sailing, and the sail shifted from end to end when it is necessary to go “about ship,” and I can assure you that it is a full-sized man’s job to swing the boom and sail round. Of course, they make a lot of leeway when the wind is before the beam, although the broad-bladed steer-oar shown in your illustration acts as a lee board to a certain extent.

I have done some sailing in these vessels dur ing a residence of 18 years in the Sta Cruz group, so you may know that I am no tourist.

Wishing your little paper every success.