Solomon Is. News
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent.
Tulagi, Oct. 4.
IT was learned with regret recently that Mrs. Rose Statham, formerly a well known Solomon Islands resident, had died of pneumonia in the Prince Alfred Hos pital, Sydney, in August. Since the death of her husband, Mr. G. H. Statham, she had lived in Sydney to educate her son, but prior to that had lived at the Marovo Lagoon, where her husband died. Older settlers and all who knew Mrs. Statham will feel the loss of a sterling character and a good friend.
While on leave from Gatere Estate, Ysabel, which he had managed for several years, Mr. W. M. Maguire recently died in Brisbane, only a few weeks before he was due to return to the Solomons.
“Mac,” who was popular everywhere, will be greatly missed.
Guadalcanal Gold Search
Another prospecting party has returned to Guadalcanal. The original and best known mining venture there, Pioneer Ex pedition N.L., continues to go ahead with inspections with an optimism which must certainly have some justification.
It is a pity that the long-promised Mining Regulations continue to hang fire, probably holding up a much needed new industry. However, it is felt that there cannot be much more delay.
Air Mail Facilities Needed
At present there are no arrangements whereby letters to go by air mail can be despatched through the Solomon Islands Post Office. Though no air lines call here, residents frequently wish to post letters to catch planes in New Guinea, Brisbane, or Sydney; these have to be enclosed in other letters and re posted in Australia or in the Mandated Territory.
If some form of air postage were arranged here, much trouble would be saved, and the air mail would be largely used where, without it, letters are so long in transit. There seems no insurmount able obstacle; probably it has not been thought of.
Epidemics Cause Many Deaths
Sickness has been visiting the Solo mons with very serious results. An ail ment resembling beriberi broke out among the labour in Vanikoro, the death rate being rather high. Practically all the surviving labour were returned to their homes.
A form of meningitis has taken toll of the islanders of Malaita, on which the Group is chiefly dependant for its labour supply. Before the epidemic had cleared up a very fatal form of influenza spread through the island. Apparently the ’flu is more fatal on Malaita than on any other of the Solomon Islands, and the death rate is always very heavy.
Sou’Easters Take Toll Of
Shipping
The inclement weather which has per sisted for several months seems now to have eased to prepare us for the Nor’west season. The South-easters have taken toll of shipping, and there have been many miserable mariners weary of battling against them.
In Tulagi Harbour it has been so rough, that it is a risky and troublesome busi ness to board the steamer when she is leaving for Sydney. In fact, there has been an agitation to have the steamer leave from the wharf, or to provide pon toons for the safety and convenience of passengers, if the ship is to remain in the stream when about to leave the Group.
Treatment For Lepers
A prominent missionary society, recog nising the serious number of cases of leprosy in the Solomons, particularly on Malaita, is making efforts to get land to enable these unfortunates to receive treatment.
A suitable area will possibly be found, although without legislation to compel them, it is not likely that natives will be eager to leave their homes, even with the hope of relief and possibly cure under modern treatment. It is to be hoped the effort to establish a leper settlement meets with the necessary backing and assist ance. ■ Mr. B. B. Perriman, M.L.C., manager of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Limited’s branch at Rabaul, returned to New Guinea after furlough in Australia by the Nep tuna on October 21.