B.S.I. News

Residents Appreciate New Flogging Laws

From Our Own Correspondent.

Tulagi, Sept. 13.

THE official announcement of the introduction of legislation to enable cer tain types of native criminals to be dealt with in the only way likely to impress offenders or potential offenders, has been received with satisfaction.

Some effort to achieve this should have been made by officials years ago, when this class of crime started. The present announcement, if it becomes defin itely known to natives with criminal tendencies, will have a wholesome re straining effect; and it must be remem bered also that our long-suffering Euro pean community, patient as it has been, was not prepared to allow this class of crime to continue. The Government, in making this law, has probably saved members of the public some nasty work, as this rape business had to be checked.

Tardy though it is, Sir Murchison Fletcher’s pronouncement is appreciated.

Proposed Radio Station

The Malayta Company has under con sideration a proposal for the erection of a wireless transmitting and receiving sta tion on their Yandina estate. This idea has proved successful in Australia, and should be a boon here, although radio installations in the Solomons do not al ways function perfectly.

The saving in time and expense in the management of big interests like the Malayta Company, should be great.

Old Pioneers’ Stories

It is a pity that no institution or His torical Society exists to interest folk in the preservation of reminiscences and re cords of the old pioneers who have passed away. It would be interesting to compare those folk and what they have done for the group with the Asiatic element that has now practically driven the Island trader out of existence.

It is a great pity that Mr. J. Newman’s reminiscences were never written down.

Mr. Frank Wickham’s carefully-kept diaries, if preserved, would have been a revelation and there is a Shortland Islands family that, for generations, have

lived romance and adventure, the story of which is probably still available.

All Islanders are eagerly looking for ward to reading Mr. Cromer’s book, “Jock of the Islands.” For years those who heard “Jock’s” interesting yarns were barracking for his life in book form.

Some folk possess copies of quite re cent works of real interest and showing real talent —as, for instance, one or two poems by the late Mr. Tas. Walton —well worthy of a place in Islands literature.

Anyone possessing any documents of this kind owes it to the Protectorate and to literature, to see that they are preserved for posterity,

Paper Currency

There is talk of ceasing to issue the Solomon Islands paper money. The paper currency, until Mr. Bernett’s term as Acting Resident Commissioner, was either Australian banknotes, or, more commonly, Burns, Philp notes, which were called in. Whether there has been any profit or advantage in the Protec torate issuing its own notes is doubtful.

The very ugly penny-halfpenny stamp is to be replaced, so philatelists will have another to add to their collections.

Steamer Service

The prospect of the “Macdhui” being substituted for the “Malaita” on all or occasional trips, rather interests Island folk. Of course, it is not to please B.S.I. settlers that the shipping company is considering making changes, and in any case, no fault can be found with the “Malaita” — except that it is, as some prophesied, “too good to last.” But the steamer is our link with the world, and a change of vessels is quite an event.

With the certainty of one visit, and the possibility of more, by Carpenter’s fine vessels and an occasional ship like the “Oronsay,” our mail service from Aus tralia to Tulagi is much improved.

Buka Copra Driers

The Buka driers, much used in New Guinea, are becoming popular in the British Solomons. The S.I.D. and asso ciated companies, and the Malayta Com

pany, are both installing a number of Buka driers. The driers appear to be a very practical, simple, and compara tively inexpensive method of kiln-drying.

Mr. Berry is erecting the driers for the S.I.D. companies and Mr. Sid Warrant for the Malayta Co.

Pending perfection of some system of direct extraction of oil from green copra, the Buka drier seems the best solution of copra preparation yet devised.

Personal Notes

Mr. James Farrar, for years a familiar figure amongst recruiters, has sold his vessel, the “Lady Laurel” to the South Seas Evangelical Mission and returned to Sydney. Their many friends will wish Mr. and Mrs. Farrar all success and hap piness in their Australian home.

Mr. J. Adam has been placed in charge of the engineering department at Gavutu.

Mr. W. Heritage, the genial manager of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter Ltd., Tulagi, has now recovered from his serious illness.

He is a real old-timer, and his many friends will rejoice at seeing him out of hospital, directing again the business at “Number Two.” * It seems quite likely that Mr. F. L.

Pinching may yet be persuaded to carry on with his medical work for Levers, rather than leave the firm at the critical juncture when so many changes in exe cutive are taking place. His friends look forward to such a decision on his part.

Mr. Ward, so long familiar to lonely planters and traders, as chief engineer of s.s. “Malanta” and s.s. “Mitiaro,” is now on the engine-room staff of the m.v.

“Malaita.” His numerous friends rejoiced to see “Wardy’s” cheerful face again in the Solomons.

Mrs. F. Keeble has returned to the Solomons. Mr. Keeble is running the temporary bar erected after the Tulagi Hotel was destroyed. In this connection it is pleasing to note that although the new building will be smaller than the old hotel, the accommodation will be separ ate from the bar, which is very much to be desired.