To Combat A Coconut Pest

IT is probable that early steps will be taken by plantation owners in New Guinea to introduce the parasite Pleuro tropis Parvulus, which has been success ful in destroying the coconut pest Prome cotheca in the New Hebrides. At the re quest of the N.G, Administration, Mr.

Dupertuis (who introduced the parasite to the New Hebrides) sent some of the parasite in cold storage to New Guinea, in the hope that it might combat the outbreak of Promecotheca there. But it did not survive the journey.

Mr. H. W. Champion, Government Sec retary in Papua, is making a satisfactory recovery from his recent severe illness.

He is residing at present at Killara.

Sydney.