Christmas Island

Severe Drought Affects Famous Plantations

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, June 20.

HTHE schooner Denys, returning from * Christmas Island, early in May, brought news of an intense drought there.

There has been no rainfall for over a year. The plantations are suffering from lack of moisture. The foliage is yellow and coconuts mature at only a quarter their normal size.

The coconut tree is, however, a hardy plant, and there is little danger of any permanent damage.

The modification of the regulations in regard to recruiting in French Oceania, for service outside the colony, has enabled the holder of the leasehold of Christmas Island to staff his plantations from this colony. The living conditions are reported to be satisfactory; the people being well nourished and happy.

There are three little settlements some miles apart, each adjacent to its par

ticular plantation. They have been named London, Paris and Marseilles. The representative of the British Government resides, very appropriately, at London, where flies the flag of the Empire. Road ways connect the settlements and four motor trucks and one passenger-car are used for transportation.

The native Tahitians—always home sick when abroad—have given their own names to the plantations of Christmas— Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, and so forth.

Christmas Island was formerly leased to Messrs. Lever Brothers. But it was too isolated and too distant from Aus tralia for efficient administration. Some years ago the leasehold was taken over by Abbe Rougier, lately the proprietor of Fanning Island. Abbe Rougier very largely extended the coconut plantations on Christmas, until it has became one of the most valuable copra-producing properties in the Pacific. Since the death of Father Rougier, the island has been managed by his nephew and heir, Mon sieur Emmanuel Rougier, who resides at Papeete.

The Denys had to meet a southerly gale and heavy seas during the 12 days of her voyage south. Being a diesel motored vessel, she could hold a straight course. But the high waves battered her hull constantly, and she arrived with a broken bowsprit and her forward works badly damaged. The skipper, Captain Alexander Mervin, is an experienced mariner who has navigated the danger ous waters of the Tuamotus for many years.

Mr. A. T. Traversi, F.I.A. (Lond.), has been appointed by the Commonwealth Government to make an actuarial investi gation into the position of the New Guinea Superannuation Fund.