Noumea Casino

plan which was formulated by * important interests in New Caledonia last year, for the establishment in Nou mea of a Casino, conducted on such lines that it would attract tourists from Aus tralia, New Zealand and other parts of the South Seas, has not been approved by the French Government.

The Governor of New Caledonia an nounced early in January that he had received a letter by air mail dated Nov ember 20, 1936, in which the Minister for the Colonies indicated that he had not been able to deal with the plan for es tablishing a Casino. In consequence, the Conseil-General had decided to abandon

the project, as it had been outlined by the Noumea interests.

The Bulletin du Commerce protests very strongly against this decision, point ing out that the matter had had a great deal of thought by the Noumea people and they were exceedingly anxious that the plan should be proceeded with. They were convinced that the establishment of a Casino on the right lines would bring many new visitors and much addi tional money into New Caledonia.

Rev. S. H. Dewdney, of the London Missionary Society, at Orokolo, in the Gulf Division, Papua, has married Miss M. Holmes, who arrived in Port Moresby

from England by the January Montoro.