Thursday Is. Notes

From Our Own Correspondent

Thursday Is., Nov. 4.

THE Governor-in-Council has appointed Mr.

William J. Wood as a member of the T.I.

Town Council in place of Mr. R. Fergusson, who recently resigned.

October 31 was the Golden Jubilee of the Town Council as a local authority, and the anniversary was recognised by the holding of a citizens’ dance in the Victoria Memorial Institute.

Mr. H. E. Oates, of South Australia, has joined the staff of the local radio station.

Mr. A. J. Broad is now sub-collector of Customs in place of Mr. C. Bliss, who has been transferred to Brisbane after three years’ service.

Another Japanese sampan has been sighted; this one making its way through the Endeavour Strait.

Coast Pilot Godkins has conducted five Japanese whalers down the coast. They are of 200 tons each and called in for water, making their way to Hobart, where they will rejoin their mother-ship, which is of 13,000 tonnage. From Tasmania they will proceed to the Southern whaling grounds.

Dr. G. H. Vernon has returned to Daru, Western Papua. A few evenings before he left members of the local branch of the Royal Geographical Society gave a social evening in his honour in the resi dence of Dr. Nimmo. Our popular visitor gave a paper on the district in which he now resides, suggesting several lines of research.

Mr. Probys has been gazetted as the Torres Strait representative of the Pacific Islands Asso ciation. His wife and child have now arrived at the island.

Alderman Don Farquhar has returned from his visit to Brisbane.

The Right Rev. Stephen Davies, Bishop of Car pentaria, has gone to Darwin for confirmation and other episcopal duties.

Mr. and Mrs. Hennessey, Dr. Nimmo, and Mr.

Cecil Dene have returned to the island from South, also Mr. and Mrs. F. Hockings.

Mr. Michael Portley, 8.A., has made his final tour of the Torres Strait Islands for the year in his capacity as Inspector of Aboriginal Schools.

Mrs. Portley accompanied him on the Melbidir.

Constable Martin has been transferred from Cairns to join the local police force, Constable Hawkes, of Thursday Is., replacing him at Cairns.

The Torres Strait Fresh Food and Ice Co. Pty.

Ltd. has relinquished its business as butchers, aerated water and ice manufacturers, and the Thursday Island Fresh Food & Ice Co. has com menced business at the premises of the original firm. Messrs. J. C. Mills, Claude Sluce and Bruce Lovey are the proprietors of the new firm.

Amotag visitors who have been staying on the island are Mr. Swinburn (Inspector of Weights and Measures), Captain Bundy (Messrs. John Dewar & Sons), Mr. Scott (State Government Machinery Inspector), Mr. Brooks (a world traveller), and Mesdames Green and Holman James, of Melbourne.

A lecture by Mr. E. W. Sareanalis has been

delivered on the history and life-cycle of the mother-of-pearl oyster, under the auspices of the Royal Geographical Society. The subject was dealt with in masterly fashion and was illustrated with diagrams and specimens.

It was reported from Tokio on Novem ber 1 that the Yamashita Steamship Co. intends to extend its service to New Zea land from December to compete with the Osaka Shosen Company’s forthcoming service.