Tropicalities

THE use of teleradio is spreading stead ily throughout the Pacific Islands.

It is reported this month that the Government station at Mapamoiwa, Fergusson Island, Eastern Papua, has been provided with AW.A. teleradio equipment, which keeps the Assistant Resident Magistrate, Mr. F. A. Cham pion, in regular telephone communica tion with his headquarters through the Amalgamated Wireless station, at Sama rai, 75 miles away.

The “P.1.M.” can claim that it had a good deal to do with bringing this use ful “gadget” into general use in the Western Pacific. Seven years ago, we were urging that “here is the means of removing one of the greatest troubles of life in the Islands—the inability of an isolated official, planter or trader to quickly communicate with other Euro peans, in an emergency”. * * * ON the bush track near the sea, I was startled by the sudden awful squeals of a pig.

Just around a bend, I found the cause and the instrument of the unholy row.

In the middle of the track, astride a large and agitated pig, was Zonglewara, an old ruffian from the hills, doing his utmost to tie a figure-of-eight knot in the protesting animal’s tail. Our island pigs have remarkably short tails, worn more for ornament than for any con ceivably useful purpose—other, perhaps, than that of almost driving one mad with rage at the consequential twitch the brutes give the ridiculous thing, from side to side, as they leisurely retreat from the wreck of our garden. Zonglewara had but a small end to work upon. In fact, if there was to be a knot achieved, it would have

to be a particularly tight knot—which was being gradually accomplished by sundry tugs and heaves, accompanied by agonised squeals.

The job was finished; the pair, much begrimed, arose; and Zonglewara, using a tow-line made fast to the pig’s hind leg, proceeded to steer his animal towards the sea by the simple expedient of slew ing the pig’s stem in the direction in which he really wanted him to go.

Whereupon the pig, being a pig, instantly turned himself round and went the way required.

“But wait a bit, Zonglewara”, I said.

“This tail-knotting is new to me. What’s it all about?”

“Master”, replied Zonglewara, “woman belong me ’e tell it: ‘Time you go along salt water, Zonglewara, you go along store an’ you take it treepenny matches belong me’.

“Now, master, head belong me, some time cranky little bit—might me forget matches. Now you look—me tie it tail belong pig. Ah! Time me look ’im pig, now me tink about matches!”—Marooned. * * * ON December 27, Sir Hubert Murray, Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, will be 77 years old. He still is actively in harness; in fact, such is his physical and mental vigour that, probably, he is twice as efficient at 77 as the majority of public servants half his age. He now is the doyen of Pacific administrators; and, in protecting a primitive people, and equipping them to meet and survive the impact of a ruthless European “civ ilisation”, none can equal his record.

The name of Hubert Murray, and the achievements of Australia in Papua, will be praised, long after the present gen

eration has passed. Although Sir Hu bert is a member of a family famous for genius, he does not appear to have em ployed in Papua any quality not possess ed by many men. But he has been wise, far-seeing, very patient, and completely devoted to his duty. He acts frequent ly as an autocrat, taking bold decisions and expecting no one to question his will; but he works mainly through his men, whom he personally selects, stud ies and trains. His rule has been notable for two outstanding lines of policy: The protection, education and advancement of the Papuan natives (who regard bim partly as their father, and partly as God); and the development of the Ter ritory by the encouragement of private enterprise. * * * WE have received a copy of the finan cial statement issued by the Melan esian Mission. Whatever may be one’s individual ideas about the value of mis sions in the South Seas—and opinions do vary—it can be said that an organ isation which publishes its income and, more particularly, its expenditure, in such detail as is shown by the Melanesian Mission, deserves some such public com mendation, at least. We congratulate the Bishop on producing such a detailed and simple statement —easily under stood. and well set out. It is thus that confidence is maintained. * * *

Earl And Countess Beatty Ar

rived in Apia, from American Samoa, by the U.S.S. “Ontario ”, on November 25, and settled down for a month’s stay in the Territory as guests of the Acting Administrator (Mr. A, C.

Turnbull) and Mrs. Turnbull. They will return to Pago Pago this month, and go on to Suva by the “Monterey”. He is the son of that famous Beatty who led the British battle-cruisers at the Battle of Jutland.