Torres Strait News

From Our Own Correspondent

Thursday Is.. Feb. 1.

January 30, Gladys, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Hennessey was married to Mr. William Cadzow, manager of the local branch of Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co.

Mr. H. J. Richardson has taken up duties as Town Clerk of Thursday Island, replacing Mr.

Cecil Done, who is now in a similar position at Kingaroy, Queensland.

Rev. P. J. Thomas, of the Australian Inland Mission, has been appointed as the Presbyterian Minister for Thursday Island district, and has already commenced his ministry.

Rev. William Burvill, 8.A., sub-dean of the T.I. Cathedral, has become the Administrator of the Anglican Diocese of Carpentaria. The last missionary to hold this position was Rev. W. H.

MacFarlane, who is now rector of Scotsdale, Tasmania.

Four out of the six candidates for the recent State Scholarships have passed, all being pupils of the local Convent School managed by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart Mission. Their names are John Chee Quee, Francis Clark, Veronica McGrath, and Daisy Chee Quee.

Beneficial rains have been falling during Janu ary with a total of about 29 inches. This is a welcome change. In the same month last year the domestic water problem was an extremely serious one.

The engagement is announced of Miss Joan Burvill, elder daughter of the Anglican Vicar of Thursday Island, to Mr. William F. G. Ross, school teacher, of Herberton, North Queensland.

News has been received from Brisbane of the death of Mr. Ernest E. Slaughter, aged 72, a former resident of Thursday Island. For many years he was an Alderman, and was in business with Mr, Arthur D. Herring.

When the “Marella” arrived at the anchorage outside the harbour for her January visit the weather conditions were very rough. The vessel had only three tons of cargo. Passengers for Thursday Island were lowered in baskets to the launch below, two of them being Mr. and Mrs.

Stipswitch, of the local radio station.

The Goode Island lighthouse, at the entrance to T.I. harbour, is to be converted into an unattended light with automatic machinery. The lightkeeper will remain there owing to essential signalling duties.