Norfolk Is. News.

“Morinda’s” Schedule.

From Our Own Correspondent N. I., March 6.

AFTER a year’s trial of an extension to Auckland of her Norfolk Island- New Hebrides service, the Burns, Philp steamer “Morinda” will revert — practically without notice—to the old “Makambo” time-table’ that is, one short and one long trip alternately. To Norfolk, via Lord Howe and back to Sydney on one passage; to Norfolk and on to Vila and other island ports on the next.

The run to the Dominion proved a costly failure, tourists being rare and new set tlers rarer still. When the New Zealand Government recently imposed an em bargo on all agricultural produce from Australian territories, that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and decided the Company to revise the schedule. Visitors and travellers having any claim to transportation from either end may have passages arranged via Sydney; but the sudden cessation of the service is a severe blow to the two hun dred residents who claim New Zealand as their homeland. Unless the embargo lifts before produce merchants in Auck land are interested in our early potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and so on, there is little likelihood of even an irregular service to and from the island; and in the present state of our finances there are few in deed who can afford to take a trip via Sydney.

There is, of course, something to be said for the point of view of the ship ping company. There must be members of the board of directors and heads of departments who grit their teeth at the mere mention of Norfolk Island. An in conspicuous speck of land upon the vast Pacific, it is still our firm conviction that our shipping interests are paramount and several times a year it seems that someone or other works out a magnifi cent new schedule, designed for our benefit only, and submits it through the Company’s local manager. Certainly it would not appear from results that head office loses any sleep over these various propositions; but occasionally they must long to send a delegate down to us to address a mass meeting in Rawson Hall and point out to us, once and for all, our importance in their own scheme of things.

Musical Recital.

As a community we are extraordinarily musical, with an appreciation of the best that can be given us and on the evening of February 25 the Rawson Hall was packed to hear a recital given jointly by Mr. Frederick Hyde and Madame Edith Allen-Taylor, assisted by Mr. Tom Bailey (violinist) and Miss Daisy Rossitor (accompanist).

Mr. Hyde is an Englishman who left home as a boy and grew up in Timaru, New Zealand, where he received a first rate musical education and ultimately conducted a studio for singing and the piano. He fought through the war with the New Zealanders, and three months spent in Germany as one of the army of occupation only stimulated his interest in music as a career. He is a most ac complished pianist with particular gifts as an accompanist and also sings most agreeably. It was a visit to the island last year that led him to return by last

steamer and to open here a studio for all branches of music. This presents a won derful opportunity for students and should prove an additional inducement for settlers who are keen upon their children’s musical education. Madame Allen-Taylor hails originally from the is land but has spent the last five years in Sydney, where she has studied thoroughly and is well-known as a con cert artist. She is also familiar “on the air” from all the Sydney broadcasting stations.

Dr. Duke’S Return.

The incoming steamer from Sydney brings back to us Dr. Leslie Duke who, for the past two years, has been in Eng land and the Continent, passing every possible examination in surgery and gathering every possible degree. He was half-way through his second term as Medical Officer of Health on the island when he decided to apply for special leave of absence and his place was filled by Dr. Sydney Laurence who, no doubt, will be remembered on Fanning Island, where he spent a year or so before com ing here.

Dr. Duke is so brilliant a young sur geon that it is most improbable that he

will remain with us when his term is up.

It would be a lamentable waste of his outstanding gifts and he will undoubt edly find a practice in some mainland city and build up a big name for him self. But we hope that when the time comes to replace him here, the Powers That Be will remember our isolated posi tion and the urgent necessity that any man they send us shall be completely competent, both as physician and sur geon. The post carries with a very good salary, a free house and right to private practice; in exchange for that we are entitled to the best man available. A poor man costs the Ministry for Health just as much as a good one, and costs us, in health and confidence, a good deal more. It is not fair that our lives and the lives of our families should be placed at the mercy of official incompetence.

The Matson liner “Lurline,” which is making a cruise of the South Pacific is lands on her maiden voyage, arrived in Suva on February 11. An attractive pro gramme had been arranged, including exhibitions of native dancing and a dis play of fire-walking by the natives from Bequa. The liner sailed for Auckland on the same day.