Torres Strait Notes

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., Apr. 5.

THE motor schooner “Vanora” is in Thurs day Island harbour at present, en route from Singapore and Merauke (D.N.G.) to the South Seas: she is owned by Mrs. M. Hart, flies the Stars and Stripes, and has been quietly cruising round the globe.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rowan have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Sullivan, of T.I.

Mr. Rowan founded the Lockhart River Mis sion on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula 14 years ago, and has been its only Superin tendent. Persistent rumours of Mr. Rowan’s ill-health have no foundation —he is the pic ture of robust health. His resignation will take effect at the end of the year.

The German luxury liner “Reliance”, of Ham burg, called here on her world tour. About 180 tourists came ashore.

Considerable quantities of building material are being unloaded here from overseas steam ers to be transhipped across the Gulf of Car pentaria to the new flying-boat base at Groote Eylandt. There is also to be another flying boat base at Karumba, near Normanton, North Queensland.

The Lord Bishop of Carpentaria and Mrs.

Stephen Davies have journeyed on the “Francis Pritt” to the Mitchell River Mission in the Gulf of Carpentaria. With them was Mr. Joseph Chapman (the Superintendent), who came back by the “Changte” from holidays in Sydney and on Norfolk Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Allison, of Wynnum, Queensland, have been the guests for some weeks of Mr. and Mrs. Somerset Vidgen, at Somerset, Cape York Peninsula. Mr. Vidgen is hoping to attract many tourists from Australia to this unique centre.

The British cruiser H.M.S. “Dorsetshire” which is stationed at Singapore, paid a visit to T.I. on her circumnavigation of Australia after spending a week at Darwin. Football, cricket, golf and tennis matches were arranged.