Tropicalities

THIS cryptic statement was made by the Bishop of Melanesia (Rt. Rev.

H. W. Baddeley) in a public address in Sydney on July 12: “In her mandated territories, Australia has realised in a wonderful way her responsibili ties to the people placed in her care. I don’t feel inclined to comment on the actions of other countries with interests in my diocese, but sometimes I think the term ‘mis government’ would be a very mild one to apply to some of the actions of which I am cognisant.”

The diocese of Bishop Baddeley extends from the Mandated Territory of New Guinea (Bougainville) in the north, through the British Solomon Islands, to the New Hebrides (Condominium) and Norfolk Island, in the south. To whom was he referring: —the British or the French Colonial Office? And what has been going on, to arouse the ire of this highly-respected, hard-hitting prelate?

APPARENTLY, the liquidation of an estate can be as expensive in Fiji, as anywhere else. Recently, a con cern called Hargrave and Co., Suva, went bankrupt, and the stock was sold for £189. Ordinary creditors’ proved claims totalled £503. Out of the £189, the creditors got £46! This is what hap pened to the balance: —Auctioneers’ commission, £9/2/4; petitioning credi tor’s costs, £15/4/4; debtor’s solicitor’s costs, £15/15/-; advertising, etc., £2/2/10; trustees commission of 15% on collections, £27/0/3; wages, £44/10/-; rent, £28.

We know nothing of the circumstances of this bankruptcy, beyond the fact that the estate owed us a modest 24/9. But the figures are calculated to give any reasonable man a pain in the neck. * * * IT is reported that Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd. have given—or are about to give—an order in Britain for a large new motor-ship, to replace the Malabar (Singapore run) wrecked on the N.S.W. coast some two years ago.

The firm’s new motor-ship, smaller than the “Macdhui,” to replace the “Mata ram” on the Solomon Islands run, is expected in Australia about December next. The firm is short of ships, since the Malabar went down, and the “Makambo’’ went to the New Hebrides to replace the wrecked “Malinoa" and, as has been pointed out, there is noth ing available to take up the running in the event of an accident to any of the half-dozen ships now carrying on the main services. * * * IT would be refreshing if a few Pacific Administrations would display a little originality, and insist that a number of important Pacific territories should abandon their present European labels, and be known in future by their eupho nious native names. Particularly should I like to see the various signboards be ginning with “New” thrown into the deepest part of the Pacific. We have “New Guinea,” “New Britain,” New Hanover,” “New Ireland,” ‘‘New Heb rides,” “New Caledonia,” and “New Zealand.” Not one of them, with its suggestion of cold, bleak Northern Europe, is correct as to character (“New Guinea” possibly excepted), and none of them conveys to the ear half

the music that is found in such names as Samoa, Rarotonga, Tahiti, Hawaii, or Tokelau. Looking over a map of the Pacific one is saddened to see how few original native names have sur vived. “Fiji,” of course, originally was “Viti”; “Tahiti” was “Otaheite” when Cook was there; and “Hawaii” was “Owhyee.” There is no part of the world more liberally plastered with English names than the Pacific. Samoa, Tonga and Hawaii only just escaped the clutches of unimaginative cartographers: until quite recent times they were re spectively the Navigator, Friendly and Sandwich Islands.

AN interesting incident in the early history of Lord Howe Island was narrated by Mr. H. R. Rabone, at a meeting of the Society of Australian Genealogists, in Sydney, on July 28.

Captain Thompson, a whaler, who sailed the South Seas in the early days, when there were few people on Lord Howe Island, was crossing the Pacific, near the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, when he sighted a fragile canoe con taining a woman, two girls and a man.

He took the occupants of the canoe on to his ship and the youngest girl, about twelve years of age, told him that she was the daughter of a native chief of one of the islands in the Group. Her father had betrothed her to the chief of a neighbouring island and, as she de tested this man, she decided to escape.

Accompanied by her nurse, a friend and a local fisherman, she had left the island at night and for three or four days had sailed without seeing ship or land until the whaling vessel had picked them up.

Captain Thompson allowed them to remain on board and eventually they reached Lord Howe Island, after being wrecked on a reef. When the girl be came of age, the captain married her and many of the present residents of Lord Howe Island are related to them. * * * IN connection with an article entitled, “Papuan Medical Students to Attend Sydney University,” in the July number, it was stated that a Motuan, Morea- T'oua, began medical work in Papua eight “months” ago. This was an error.

This clever native commenced his medi cal-orderly work eight years ago.