Rabaul Notes

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Sept. 18.

THE Japanese training ship, Hakuryu Maru, of the Fisheries Institute of Tokio, arrived at Rabaul on September 16 on its usual annual cruise of the Pacific. Two years ago this up-to date and efficient vessel called here on its return voyage to Japan. There are 23 students aboard who are finishing their four years’ course at the institute which teaches them all there is to know about deep-sea fishing, from casting the line to canning the fish.

Alleged Assaults By Visiting Seamen

Local residents will in future be more careful about offering wandering seamen lifts back to their vessels after making the welkin ring. Two greasers from the s.s. Tynbank, loading copra in port, recently appeared in court charged with as sault and doing bodily injury to two local residents who offered them a ride in their car. After much gathering of evidence and questioning by the magistrate the two cases were committeed for trial in the Supreme Court. One had already been con victed of assaulting a native.

Methodist Mission’S “Varatabaras”

It s an ill wind ... if local traders are receiving no copra from natives owing to the construction of hot-air driers by themselves and selling the finished product direct to the shippers, the Metho dist Mission reaped a slightly better harvest at its recent “varatabaras”—the meetings held at which each village makes it annual voluntary offering. There has been a very fair increase throughout the Gazelle Peninsular in all village offerings, due it is said to more money in circula tion.

Jockey Injured

The New Guinea Cup race meeting held at Lakunai on September 12 (Commemoration Day) was fairly well attended. The programme was nothing startling as several of the horses were scratched, but the main event for the Cup proved of interest. It was won by Mrs. Cruise’s A’Ravir in the record time of 1.57 1-5 for the nine furlongs.

The popular jockey Jack Sherry had a narrow escape when he sustained a nasty fall from his mount, Queen Malka, in the last race. Spectators from the grandstand were under the impression that the mount had rolled on its rider, but fortu nately this was not the case, and Sherry escaped with both hands broken.

The winner of the N.G. Cup, A’Ravir, was sold by auction after the meeting and is now the pro perty of that well-known racing enthusiast, Mr.s.

Pat Holmes.

Native Trespasser Discharged

A self-confessed native trespasser on a Euro pean woman’s house in the middle of the night was recently discharged in the local lower court, much to everyone’s surprise—including the accus ed, who was already serving a sentence for theft. One

wonders just how far it is for native culprits to go before they are convicted. A legal technicality saved the youth in this instance; but the im pression, or the encouragement given to others who may be so inclined, is a dangerous thing.

How is the native mind to grasp the interpreta tion of “legal technicality”? The native admitted the offence and yet he goes free!

New Swimming Pool

Subscriptions for the construction of a swim ming pool and children’s playground are being called for in Rabaul and the response has already been encouraging as over £3OO has been received.

The goal is £l,OOO. The pool will be situated behind the Customs office, and elaborate pumping arrangements will keep a fresh supply of sea water in it.

Pastor G. Peacock, who is superinten dent of S.D.A. mission work in New Gui nea, sailed from Sydney by the September Macdhui for Matupi Island, Rabaul, after attending an Adventist conference in Vic toria.