Tropicalities

FLYNN, formerly of New Guinea and now a film star, has finished his book, Beam Ends, which is now being published. Mr. Flynn is now starting work on his new novel. Beam Ends is the story of Mr. Flynn’s adven tures in the South Seas, and features many of his experiences in Sydney. * * * /AVER 20 years ago, a warship paid a brief visit to Gizo, British Solomon Islands. The D. 0., Mr. Tasman Sykes, one of the “old brigade” and a real hard case noted for his repartee, entertained the officers that evening at the residency.

When the party broke up, he was in formed that H.M.S. would leave port next (or really that) morning at eight sharp.

Mr. Sykes said he would say his fare wells on board before their departure.

“Tassy,” however slept too sound and did not wake till 8 a.m. He hurriedly, yet carefully dressed, ordered his whale boat to be manned, and, far from being perturbed, appeared alongside at 8.45. At the top of the gangway he was met by the captain, who in his best bulldog voice, barked: “I wish you to please understand that this ship waits for no one but His Majesty the King!” Without blinking an eyelid. “Tassy” bowed deeply to the captain and his officers and an swered, “Gentlemen, you honour me!” * * * A PARAGRAPH in the January P.I.M. that there was some con nection between a brewery company being formed in New Guinea and Messrs.

W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd. We are advised by the latter firm that there is not the slightest connection between them. Messrs. Carpenter and Co. are anxious that this should be made clear, in view of the possibility that the New Guinea brewery concern may be seeking to sell shares to the public. * * * AN Auckland resident writes pointedly: “You are very much out of touch with the state of affairs in Rarotonga.

You, like many more, apparently have paid only a fleeting visit to the Cook Islands, viewed things from one side only, and came away sure that all was well.

I resided there six months before I began to see and hear things as they are.

Ninety per cent of the people there are suffering under a sense of injustice.”

He goes on to say that “the powers that be” are moving heaven and earth to get a certain official into the position of manager of the fruit business, instead of another man who is regarded as the obvious man for the job and who is “conscientious, courteous, and construc tive.” Our correspondent adds that “most of the others are just an obstructive clique.”

Our Auckland writer then says some very bitter things about the Admims*r*. tion at Rarotonga, and also about “Hie Resident Agent’s activities at Aitutaki.”

This correspondent sends a cutting from a New Zealand newspaper dealing

with conditions in the Cook Group. The headings, across three columns, read: “Tom Thumb Dictator in Pacific Para dise —Young Girls Flogged Under New Zealand Administration—High Time Government Acted.”

Our regular correspondent in Raro tonga is not the kind of writer who is likely to withhold the truth; and he has made no reference to the startling condi tions which are outlined by the Auck land resident. There is evidently an agitation against the Cook Islands Ad ministration: but. for the reason we have just indicated, we do not think it should be taken too seriously. * * * A LL those South Seas residents who have vainly tried to woo Dame Fortune with a modest “five bob” invested in the N.S.W. Slate Lottery should feel less bitter about that fickle female’s whims when they learn that the “Solomon Triers” won third prize of £5OO in a recent drawing. The ticket was held by two recent residents of B.S.l.—Mrs. R. Fuller, now of Balfour-slreet, Sydney, and Mr.

W. Newall, now caretaker of the Long Reef golf links. * ♦ ♦ TT is reported, on doubtful authority, that our well-known correspondent in Port Moresby, Papua, Mrs. Mollie Lett, has been in some danger of assassination by infuriated residents of Wau, New Guinea, who strangely hold her respon sible for the publication of an article entitled “One Wild Night in Wau” in the December P.I.M. It is argued by the people of Wau that the article cast upon their little town an unpleasant reputa tion for drunken and riotous behavior.

Therefore, in order to save the life of

a valued citizen, we hasten to point out that the article really was written by a German scientist, Herr Bernatzik, in his book Sudsee which, incidentally, has had an extraordinarily large sale. Ber natzik was in Wau some three years ago and described his experiences there. Mrs.

Lett can read German fluently and, on occasions she art c’es for us.

She translated for us a portion of Sudsee, including the bit about the wild night in Wau.

It is therefore suggested that Wau, having heard the case for the defence, will return a verdict of “not guilty” so far as Mrs. Lett is concerned. * * * TT has been reported that important industrial interests in Japan have been making arrangements to establish a cotton growing industry in Dutch New Guinea. There are no details. We argali aware that the Japanese are anxious to extend their industrial activities in the Pacific Islands, but we should be sup rised to learn that the Dutch contemplate making to Japan any concessions which might be a source of future embarrass ment to themselves or their neighbours. ♦ * * conditions in New Caledonia have improved considerably, and the chrome and nickel mines are working at full pressure, reports Mr. N.

Hagen, the well-known Noumea mer chant.

Mr. Hagen says that the French auth orities have introduced a 40-hours’ week for all European workers in New Caledonia.

M. Blum’s Socialistic Government is at the back of this, no doubt. But the 40-hours’ week is bound to come anyway.

Why should not the Pacific lead the way?

The next move is up to Fiji, or New Guinea, or Papua—those busy and pro gressive territories which are not afraid of new ideas.