Solomons News

“Flying Fox” Wrecked

From Our Own Correspondent

Tulagi, July 12.

THE south-easter this year has been one of the worst for a long time. For weeks : . there has been no easement in the wind, which has been accompanied by heavy rain squalls more like a nor’-wester.

A week ago Mr. H. C. Corrie’s vessel, the Flying Fox, went ashore on the Guadal canal coast, and in view of the weather raging it seems almost certain that the vessel will be a total wreck. The Flying Fox, a fine little vessel, was sailed down from the New Hebrides to the Solomons.

She was built of Islands kauri. It is only a month or two since the same vessel spent a few hours ashore further up the Guadalcanal coast.

Beef From Sydney

Since the establishment of our freezing works and butchery in Tulagi, there has until recently been a market for local beef.

Difficulties of transport, however, have so interfered with the local meat supply that the butchery is now importing its beef from Sydney.

Plantations on the Guadalcanal coast which have hitherto provided the meat will miss the weekly visit of the “butcher’s boat,’’ which was one of their most reliable means of communication with Tulagi.

Soil Expert For Gavutu

Again Levers’ plantations in the Solo mons are in the throes of annual inspec tion. In addition to its entomological activities the firm has now imported a soil expert and assistant, who will throw their weight into the battle against the poor production of copra.

The whole planting community must benefit from the activities of these various experts, and Levers are to be compli mented on their enterprise on behalf of the copra industry. That the expenditure on these scientific investigations at Gavutu is not wasted, is proved by the dividend paid by Levers.

Pioneer Gold Co. Carries On

Still very little news comes from the Pioneer Gold Company on Guadalcanal.

The fact that the “show” is still carrying on, and has increased its white staff by employing a local resident with mining ex perience, is in contrast with most of the other 8.5.1. gold ventures.

The prospectors who gave Malaita a rough look round have so far not reported gold there. There is some talk, however, of other minerals being discovered on the island.

New Tenants For Crown Lands

Already, with the optimism of slightly higher copra prices, fresh tenants are making for the Crown lands from which the original owners who put their all into the soil have been evicted.

The evictions are a tragedy, and worse, but if there is any hope of retrieving the plantations, it is better that they should not go back to the scrub. After all, a tenant who takes over anew plantation on which the original owner has spent five or six thousand pounds, should make a success of it.

Tulagi Waits For New Church

The proposed church on Tulagi seems no nearer than does the proposed hotel.

Bishopscourt, at Siota, has been renovated to receive Bishop Walter Baddeley upon his return, so perhaps it will be some while before the Bishop’s residence, at any rate, is erected in Tulagi. It had been hoped

that the building of the church would be proceeded with shortly after the Bishop’s return.

Mr. R. H. Brown, manager of Burns Philp (South Sea) Co.’s branch in Western Samoa, arrived at Apia with his wife by the Monowai on July 12, after extended furlough in New Zealand and Australia.