S.I. “Amazons” Story is Denied

No Skirmish

Letter to the Editor.

WITH reference to an article published in The Pacific Islands Monthly of July, under the heading of “Amazons to the Rescue on Shortland Island,” I would be obliged if you would print this denial of the statements.

The Jubilee Celebrations held in the Shortlands were organised by the District Officer and the Right Reverend Father Boch and went off most happily in every way.

After Divine Service at the Marist Mission all residents of the district (Euro peans, natives and Asiatics) were invited to attend the “Breaking of the Flag” at the Government Station, and after this ceremony was completed everyone joined in singing “God Save the King.” In the afternoon dances were arranged by the various natives in the district and, in addi tion to the local natives, the Malaitamen employed on various plantations and oa the steamer gang gave displays.

Never for one moment were relations be tween the Malaitamen and the Shortland Islands natives in the least bit strained and the so-called “promising scrap” quoted by your correspondent existed only in his imagination.

Your correspondent wrote from Tulagi, which is about 300 miles from Shortlands.

Three Tulagi residents were present at the Celebrations, but it seems incredible that any one of them would have distorted the history of a very happy day for the sake of “a good story.” A distorted account has been published, however, and residents of this district feel indignant about it.

It is untrue articles like this that put ideas into the minds of natives, many of whom can now read. There is no doubt that, to their primitive minds, the “wish is father to the thought”: and who can blame them for thinking that the white people present were disappointed that there was not a “promising scrap” at the termination of the dancing.

I am, etc.,

C. W. Seton.

Shortlands,

5.1., 16/8/35.

Miss Molly Swinbourne, of Wahroonga T N.S.W., sailed by the Malaita on October 5 for Tulagi. On her arrival there she was to be married to Mr. J. Menzies, of Talena, Solomon Islands. The bride’s new home will be at the copra plantation on Talena Island, where she will be the only white woman.