Phoenix Islands

New Imperial Outpost in the Pacific

From Our Own Correspondent

Tarawa, Dec. 1.

FOLLOWING the recently-concluded sale to the Gilbert and Ellice Is lands Colony Government of Burns, Philp and Co.’s lease of the Phoenix Is lands, with copra plantations and build ings and equipment, the Royal Colony Ship “Nimanoa” has proceeded to the Phoenix Group, taking District Officer G. Gallagher, late of Funafuti (Ellice Islands), for the purpose of establishing a Government Station and administra tive offices there and establishing sett lers.

The Phoenix Group, lying five degrees south of the equator, across longitudes E. 170-175, has figured rather promin ently in Pacific affairs since the com paratively recent occupation of Canton and Enderbury Islands by United States naval units in connection with the es tablishment of strategic naval and air outposts. Other islands in the Group are Hull, Sydney, Phoenix, Gardner, Mc- Kean and Birnie.

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, which has purchased Burns, Philp’s lease, is administered from Downing Street through the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific at Suva, with a local Resident Commissioner at Ocean Island.