Thursday Is.

Notes

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., Feb. 5.

FROM information received, it is learned that several sampans have been working during December and January between Cape York and Cooktown. Their search for trochus and other shell is so thorough .that they are leaving very little for future harvesting. Immature shell is being freely poached, though Australian shellers are heavily fined for taking this young shell.

When local vessels returned to the Torres Strait for their annual lay-up, the alien craft remained to take advantage of the splendid conditions afforded by “clear water.” Trochus shell is be coming increasingly difficult to win from the reefs, and there will soon be a serious shortage owing to the cleaning-up by the poachers.

Mrs. Gerald Bruce has been staying at Badu Island with Mr. and Mrs. Frank May.

Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Simpson have been the guests of Rev. and Mrs. Schomberg at St. Paul’s, Moa Island.

Mr. Bryant, of Saibai Island, has been taken in hurriedly by the Melbidir to the T.S. Hospital, suffering from blood poisoning.

Mr. Carey, of Cape York Telegraph Station is also an inmate of the local hospital.

Mr. J. D. McLean, P.M., and Mrs. McLean, will shortly go South on furlough.

Mr. and Mrs. Woods, of Yorke Island, will also leave on furlough.

The new concrete church on Badu Island is almost completed at a cost of about £1800, nearly all the labour having been voluntary. It is a stately structure in Spanish Mission style.

When the Protector of Aborigines leaves T.I. shortly on furlough, his duties will be carried out by Mr. W. Ewert, the deputy-protector, who has returned from South, looking very fit.

Captain Morris has been appointed as a member of the Torres Strait Pilot Service. He is well known as an officer on Messrs. Burns, Philps’ steamers. The new pilot takes the place of Captain Howie, who has retired.

Miss Maxwell and Mr. Upton were married re cently in the Quetta Memorial Cathedral.

The Changte, at the end of January, brought back to the Torres Strait from South, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, of Poid; Mrs. Zahel, of Badu Is.; Mr. Goforth, of T.I. State School; Miss S.

Armbrust, Mr. C. Cleveland (a pearlsheller), Mrs.

Mortensen, Mr. Joe Hockings, of Wanetta Pearl ing Co., Mr. Partridge, and Mr. Kearney.

The January rainfall for T.I. was 27 inches, which is 10in. more than the corresponding month of last year. Last December did not produce a drop of rain.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, of Daru Island, have been staying at Thursday Island.

Miss Clarice Hayton, of Hobart, Tasmania, has arrived to take up her duties as headmistress of St. Paul’s Mission School, on Moa Is., and prin cipal of the girls’ hostel there. This young lady has had six years’ experience in Tasmanian schools, and has lately been a student at the A.B.M.

Hostel, Epping, Sydney. St. Paul’s Mission was started by the late Deaconess Buchanan primarily for the benefit of South Sea Islanders who had acquired residential rights in Queensland.