S.I. Currency Mystery

TULAGI, April 26.

BY a recent copra steamer arrived a large consignment of silver, all newly minted. Three days after its arrival, sil ver was absolutely unprocurable. It is a standing mystery, what happens to all the silver that is imported into this Group.

Business with natives has to be done in silver, as the native has an aversion to notes, and naturally does not care for a cheque, but no one appears to know what happens to the silver when it gets into circulation.

The local note issue had the advantage that it mostly remained in circulation locally. Silver seems to fade right off the map, and gold, as elsewhere, is only a tra dition.