News In Brief

M.V. Matua.—The M.V. Matua which has been built at Newcastle, England, by the Union S.S. Coy. Ltd., for service in the Central Pacific was launched on March 25, and is expected to enter the Central Pacific service early in September.

Native Labour.—Regulations under the new Native Labour Ordinance of New Guinea were gazetted in Rabaul on March 18 (Gazette No. 441). This Gazette will be in demand by every employer of na tive labour in New Guinea. The regula tions fill 34 pages.

Flown to New Guinea.—A Hercules aeroplane, a secondhand machine from West Australia, for use in the Stephens service in New Guinea, left Sydney on April 7, in charge of Major Brierley, and flew by easy stages to Wau. It carried one passenger and a crew of four.

Search for Oil. —The Commonwealth Government has announced that, as the result of new ordinances passed in New Guinea and Papua (hammered through the Councils by the official members under instructions from Canberra!) very favourable conditions now are available for persons wishing to prospect for oil in those territories. Australia’s greatest weakness is lack of petroleum; and ap parently the search is to be intensified in the Pacific territories where the best indications are.

Samoan Administrator.—A private let ter from Apia, dated April 9, contains the extraordinary news that the appointment to the Administratorship of Samoa Is momentarily expected of a practically un known former member of the Legislative Council, whose knowledge of tropical Ad ministration apparently was gained when he visited the Islands on a tourist ship.

Sudden Death.—Mr. J. Klinkmuller, well-known and highly respected resident of Samoa, died suddenly on March 21, aged 55.

Natives’ Long Voyages.—On March 11, a Tokelau islander landed in American Samoa, having travelled 300 miles in a canoe in 22 days, with little food. On March 18, a canoe with three natives came ashore near Gizo, in the Solomons. They were Lachlan Islanders (Eastern Papua) and had been blown away to sea by a westerly gale when fishing, a week earlier.

They had to be sent home, via Rabaul.

Samoan Bus Accident. —A motor-bus struck a bridge east of Apia on April 6 and fell into the Letogo River, with 18 passengers. A native lad was killed, and several injured.

Lord Howe to Come Onto Map.—lt is indicated that the new air-mail service, London to New Zealand, will start across the Tasman Sea from Brisbane. From Sydney to New Plymouth, there would be one long hop of 1160 miles. From Bris bane, there would be a hop of 400 miles to Lord Howe Island, and 850 miles thence to New Plmouth. So it seems that the charming little Kentia Palm-seed Ely sium will lose its delightful isolation.

Lord Howe has a suitable landing-ground for aeroplanes, and a big protected lagoon for flying boats; while its peaks provide a land-mark easily picked up by pilots.

Rev. Vernon H. Sherwin, who has been a member of the Melanesian Mission since 1928, will arrive in Australia shortly from Wau, New Guinea, to be married in Ade laide. During his absence Rev. John H.

Dickinson, Assistant Bishop of Melanesia, will be stationed at Wau.