Cheeky Sampan in B.S.I.

TNHIGNATION has been expressed by B.S.L residents at the cheekiness of a Japanese sampan which has been leading the authorities a merry dance at Vanikoro.

Towards the end of October an unusu ally large Japanese sampan cruised around the island and the crew spent some time diving for shell and sailing about inside the reef in front of the white settlement. Officials from the Govern ment station in a cutter chased the poacher, but it was too fast and escaped.

The following day it returned to its previous anchorage. Again the Govern ment boat went towards it, but the Jap anese vessel made off quickly. The cutter went back to the settlement.

Employees of the Vanikoro Kauri Tim ber Co. could scarcely believe their eyes when shortly afterwards the same sampan daringly returned to continue shell poach ing operations. Eventually the vessel sailed away from the island.

MANAGER OF COPRA PLANTATION (to visiting artist friend): “Laddie, you can talk about YOUR etchings—but observe MY masterpiece!

Study the magnificent line on the chart—observe its delightful upward tendency!”