Rarotongan’S Tribute To

Famous Angler

From a Special Correspondent.

RAROTONGA, January 29.

A CURIOUS incident took place to-day as Dr. Pearce, the famous American angler, who held the New Zealand deep sea record for two years, was about to go ashore from the Makura. He was no sooner in the lighter, with other pas sengers, when he observed a young Rarotongan fishing from the deck of the vessel. The doctor waved his acknow ledgments.

Just as the lighter was about to move off, however, there was a yell of excite ment as the native hauled up a gigantic fish from the deep, and deftly swinging it, landed it at the feet of the famous American angler! Consternation pre vailed amongst the women passengers, until several natives clubbed the fish into unconsciousness.

The Rarotongan angler had used no special tackle. Furthermore, the fish was of a species rarely seen in Cook Is. waters. Meanwhile, some distance away, beyond the reef, the local fishermen were bobbing up and down in their out-rigger canoes, searching the depths at a dis tance of 200 feet and more for the elusive albacore.

Dr. Pearce rose from his seat in the lighter and shouted his congratulations to the Rarotongan lad who had paid him so subtle a compliment.

Mr. Frank Pryke, one of the original “Big Six” of the Morobe goldfield of New Guinea, suffered a bad bout of illness on his last visit to Rabaul; and he had no sooner returned to Sydney than he was laid aside by an acute attack of rheuma toid arthritis. He at present is receiv ing attention at his home in Coogee, Sydney.

Mr. P. C. Hubbard, Chief Magistrate and Legal Adviser in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, has been transferred to an important magisterial post in Pales tine.