Tropicalities

THE announcement that 60 Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer players, led by Charles Laughton, Robert Montgomery and Clark Gable, have gone from Hollywood to Tahiti to make a film portrayal of Nord hoff and Hall’s story of the “Bounty” mutiny, is of outstanding interest. Tens of thousands of feet of film have been exposed in the South Seas, but we have never yet seen a Pacific film-story worthy of the name. It is to be hoped that this new M.G.M. effort will give us, at last, the long-awaited Pacific film; and that also it will show producers what a rich new field there is for their genius in the South Seas.

Incidentally, it seems a good guess that the three famous Hollywood stars will be cast thus: Bligh, Charles Laugh ton; Fletcher Christian, Clark Gable; Peter Heywood, Robert Montgomery. The director in charge is Frank Lloyd, who made such a success of “Cavalcade.” * * * ACCORDING to “The Times” Literary Supplement of February 7, “Jock of the Islands” has been published in London by Faber and Faber —price 8/6. This is the book, to which we made reference last year, by our old friend “Jock”

Cromar, of Tulagi, Solomon Islands. The book apparently records Mr. Cromar’s lively memories of the native recruiting trade prior to 1889. * * * A EUROPEAN recently stumbled over a Samoan policeman, member of a numerous and efficient body, sitting in a corner of Apia Customs Wharf, and busily contemplating the Royal badge affixed to his police felt hat. Looking up, he pointed to the inscription on the badge (Dieu et mon Droit) and asked the European whether he knew what the inscription meant in English. Feigning ignorance, the European said he did not.

“Well,” said the guardian of the peace, “it is ‘Chew ate mong droight.’ That’s Latin, you know. You savee what that means?” he inquired suspiciously.

“No, no idea whatever,” the questioned one asserted, trying to look as stupid as possible.

“Well, I’ll tell you, then. It means: ‘I’m all right!’” And waving his hand in a farewell gesture, the Babu-Samoan proudly and with dignity marched off to attend to his onerous duties elsewhere.

Captain S. L. Diamond, A Torres

Strait shipping master, who ar rived in Sydney by the Taiping on March 31, told the “Sydney Morning Herald” that the Commonwealth Go vernment’s decision to use speed boats to check Japanese sampans from operating in the trochus shell areas of the Barrier Reef would be welcomed by Australians engaged in the industry.

He had seen scores of sampans at work during the past 18 months, and sometimes they operated quite openly in areas where Australians were at work.

He had not heard of any cases where Australian operators had taken the posi tion into their own hands and dealt with the Japanese, but feeling was very tense.

Japanese were taking out all the “chicken shell” which the Australians were forced to leave behind under penalty of a fine.

That has been the position for about three years, in which time scores of shell-beds have been ruined. Now, when It is almost too late, a leisurely Govern

ment decides to send a speed-boat to Torres Strait. The ways of politicians and bureaucrats pass all human under standing. * * * IT was stated in an article in this journal in December that an American expedi tion under Commander Dyatt was making plans to carry out exploration work in New Guinea This statement contained a number of errors. The expedition is British, Is being planned by Commander G. M. Dyott, and it has the approval, according to Commander Dyott, of the Commonwealth Government and the sup port of the Royal Geographical Society.

Commander Dyott is British, not Ameri can. He says that the expedition will not be a very large affair and that its ener gies will be devoted to scientific research.

Commander Dyott visited Australia 20 years ago, and, on the present occasion, if time permits, he will visit Sydney be fore proceeding to New Guinea. * * * “NO names, no pack-drill”—but here’s one with a peculiarly sinister twist in its tail. Apropos of the Matai’s round of inspection in the Cook Group the visit ing officials were entertained by a certain Resident-Agent at an excellently cooked and served dinner. The following morn ing a medical parade was held with the object of discovering any cases of leprosy on the island. Out of the entire popula tion only one person was found. And that was the cook who had prepared the very excellent dinner! She had been in the Resident-Agent’s service for over two years. * * * A SERIAL story, “Mountains of the Moon,” is now running in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” It is a tale of life in New Guinea and Papua and is by Mr. G. Munro Turnbull, who re tired last year from the Papuan Public Service, and who already has won fame as a writer of short stories and a few novels. His “Paradise Plumes” was published by Angus and Robertson, Ltd., last year.