Little Islanders Corner

MANY interesting letters have arrived.

I do hope “Can Do,” in Wau, will have his wish realised, and ere long a troop of Boy Scouts will be found in that fascinating part of the Empire.

“Fijian Maid” writes very interestingly of Fiji and the adjacent isles; and another little lady from far-away Honolulu is indeed a lucky little girl to live in what the Americans call “the Pearl of the Pacific.”

John’s letter, from the canefields of Innisfail, Queensland, gives a touching incident about his pet—the big Alsatian. What a wonderful dog it must be!

Much love from

“Dorothea.”

Dear Dorothea, —Well, here I am plucking up courage at last to write to you. We like up here, although it is pretty crook—no swimming. Last Sunday about_ 10 of us, with Dad, went out with some native “boys” to get some lawyercane; and is it sharp and tough? Dad reckons it is true to its name! Have you ever seen lawyer cane? It has sharp prickles on the bark, and

long feelers hanging on the vine, and if your clothes get caught on them, it is very hard to get loose. But it is tough and has many uses.

One of the “boys” climbed up the tree to get the cane and lost his hold and came an awful flop. We all laughed and so did his “one-talks.”

There is a good deal of talk here over a new industry, supposed to be starting soon, and that is the kunai grass for paper making.

Can you find me a pen-friend, either a boy or girl, about 16, interested in reading, stamps, and the Boy Scouts. We haven’t any Scouts here yet, but Dad reckons we will soon.

With best wishes, Dorothea; and Mum says she will send you some items next ship.

From your little friend,

“Can Do.”

Wau, New Guinea.

Dear Dorothea,—l’d like to join your corner, if I may, and write to you sometimes. Next year we are all going to Sydney on our way to Lon don, and I am hoping to call in and see you.

Ho you know Fiji at all? It is a glorious spot, and the tropical beauty makes one wish never to leave it- I think the hibiscus is something every visitor to our islands remembers always, and if ever you come here never forget that you must not p * c k a flower from the hibiscus tree—it is re garded as very unlucky. At one plantation there are over 25 varieties and over 800 trees, you can imagine how lovely they look when in bloom, visitors being taken there to see the flowers in all their glory.

Another interesting tour is the inspection of the great sugar mills of the C.S.R. Of course you know that nearly all the labour employed here is

Indian, and splendid workers they are, too.

I have a governess and am learning typing, shorthand, music and drawing, but I find the shorthand very difficult—although Father tells me it will come to me in a flash.

I will write again if you think my letter good enough for the P.I.M.

I am, yours sincerely,

"Fijian Maid.”

Suva, Fiji.

Dear Dorothea, —I’d like to join your band.

Although at present we are at Innisfail, I’ve lived in the Islands, and long for the day we can all go back. Innisfail is the home of the canefields, and although there are many Britishers and Aus tralians here, there are many foreigners who even have their own newspaper printed in their own language. And it is hot, much hotter, than the dear Islands.

We were in Cairns some time ago and left behind our greatest pet—a big Alsatian, which Daddy had trained so well, and, although we cried at

leaving him, what do you think happened last week? We were walking down the main street, and limping up the road was Rex. We simply couldn’t believe it, at first, then Daddy gave a special whistle which only Rex knew. He stopped, looked round, and when Daddy whistled again he came limping up and sprang on Daddy, licking his face and hands. We sat down in the gutter— wasn’t it awful? —and we cried, and I‘m sure Daddy had tears in his eyes, too. We took Rex home and bathed his feet and put pads on them, but no one can make out how he found us. He goes our messages when well. If we take him to a shop and say “butcher” or “grocer” he knows and never forgets which one to go to.

Some people dislike Alsatians, but Rex is half human, and so faithful to us all. One day, when he is better, I will get a snap of him and send it to you.

We all send you good wishes, and, please, may I write to you again?

Your little friend.

Jack Gordon.

Innisfail, Queensland.

Mrs. Ted Vowels, of Thursday Island, returned from a holiday visit to Aus tralia by the Merkur in December. She was accompanied by her son Alec.

Mr. H. W. F. Robertson, who manages a Lever plantation near Gizo, in the Solomon Islands, arrived in Sydney on furlough in January. He is accompanied by his wife and daughter.

Father W. Weber, a young German missionary, who arrived in Sydney from Naples by the Orford on December 5, sailed for Kieta, New Guinea, by the January Malaita. He will spend the rest of his life in mission work on Bougain ville Island for the Marist Order.