Remarkable Newspaper Story
pp. 25-26 · Read in the full issue
Seaplane Service For
Pacific
AN extraordinary statement, to the effect that Sydney is to be linked shortly with the various Pacific Groups by means of an amphibian (seaplane) service was published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph on September 4.
It is stated that the amphibians will operate in each direction in alternate weeks. One week an amphibian will fly to New Guinea; thence across to Suva (presumably by way of the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides); and thence will fly from Suva via New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and Lord Howe Island to Sydney.
In the following week an amphibian will
cover the same route, but in the contrary direction.
It is stated that each amphibian would have accommodation for six passengers and for substantial freight: and that the pas senger fares and freight rates would be competitive with the steamer services.
To persons with any knowledge of the Pacific territories and of the transport conditions which at present exist, the story is in the highest degree fantastic; but it was quite seriously advanced by the news paper on September 4 and repeated on September 5.
The various Australian aviation com panies, including Guinea Airways Limited and Carpenter Airways, have denied any knowledge of or connection with the amphibian scheme.
Mr. Cecil Gregan has been transferred to the Thursday Island customs office from Brisbane.
Mr. W. E. Links, assistant manager at Apia for Messrs. Burns Philp (S.S.) Co.
Ltd., departed from Western Samoa in August to spend holidays in Australia, Mr. R. J. Keegan, who has been Assist ant Commandant of Police (British Sec tion) in the New Hebrides for some years, has been transferred to the Solomon Islands administration, where he becomes a District Officer. Mr. and Mrs. Keegan passed through Sydney en route to Tulagi, in September.
Mr. William C. Groves, one of the Aus tralian delegates to the Carnegie Interna tional Conference on the Education of Pacific Races recently held in Hawaii, re turned to Sydney by th e Niagara on Sep tember 5. He proceeded to Melbourne to complete his second work on New Guinea ethnography under a National Research Fellowship in Social Anthropology.