Origin Of The Pacific
pp. 25-26 · Read in the full issue
Languages
ANOTHER bishop of the Catholic Church, Monsignor Doncere, Vicar- Apostolic of the New Hebrides, has given us, out of years of patient research, a useful addition to the history of the Pacific races in general, and of the Poly nesian race in particular.
In Curiosities Linguistiques, published recently by Libraire Emmanuel Vitte, 10 Rue Jean-Bart, Paris (at 13 francs per copy) Bishop Doncere makes a careful examination of the Malayo-Polynesian languages spoken in the New Hebrides, and in the Pacific territories generally; describes their structure and grammati cal forms; and says of them that they have qualities which most of us would not expect to find in a tongue used only by primitive people. He makes an inter esting series of comparisons between the languages of the two great families, Malayo-Polynesian and Indo-European, and he claims that in the terms used in both for many common objects and simple ideas, there is marked similarity.
The learned author, however, does not advance his hypotheses in a didactic fashion; he says, instead, that he hopes
to continue his work, and make it “more complete and more scientific.”
His book is a good example of the valu able contributions to human knowledge that have been made by the missionary organisations in the South Seas.
Mr. J. D. McComish, who is well-known in Tahiti, is at present spending six months’ holiday at Norfolk Island. He will return to Australia in October.
Mr. G. M. Broad, who for the past 18 months has been on the N.G. Administra tion’s staff at Wau, has been transferred to the Public Works Department, Rabaul.
His place at Wau has been taken by Mr. C. C. Mainwaring.
Second Lieutenant Ratu Edward Cakobau, who with Major C. B. Joske, represented the Fiji Defence Force at the Coronation, returned to Fiji by the Mamari on July 31.
Mr. Victor A. Florence, barrister and solicitor, of Wau, New Guinea, was in Sydney during July and August spend ing furlough.
Miss Thora Richardson, of N.S.W., sailed from Sydney for Papua by the Montoro on August 12 to take up duties as assistant to the Chairman of the Papua District of the Methodist Mission.