Tropicalities

SURELY no more striking commentary on the changing character of the Western Pacific islands than an Incident in Rabaul on February 3. That evening, the Rabaul Police Band (playing brass instruments) gave an open-air concert in aid of the Victorian Bush Fire Relief Fund, and raised, a substantial sum of money. Practically the whole of rhe performers were New Guinea natives —now Native Constables. In many cases their parents, and in some cases the men themselves, before they came under European influence, were primitive inhabitants of.the far-back jungle Now noted n for smartness and intelligence, but they also can play European musical in- " * nd a give “their & effoSf

ritc,tr EurODean3

to held distressed eu opea . * A POST-CARD from Denmark, with a December date: "

“mviic: ic inct to tell vou that the ltetes di (4 0 500 Of copies? 0 wL b °Sold he o l rt ni en d the* into Tvs That lives me a happy New Year. I wish you the same!

Hakon Mielche”.

All the people who met the “Monsunen” expedition in the Central Pacific Islands will offer congratulations to Mr. Mielche. * * * trirklinff southwards havp EPORTS, trickling soutnwarns, nav. it that the New Year Eve dance of the Port Moresby Aquatic Club was an exceedingly joyful occasion. Long before ™pi' rhiimen and maidens, young men and chil dren, frolicked together. Recluses were forced into the open, and budding wallfnrSeTortexTr^ d elry Od TLa a r n d d s mfd-‘ nteht^the appeared in ftp form Of Whistles rattles trumpets f Q Ti m tbp f mhnntw naranhernaha of nersistent Childhood ' And af the fatefnl hoiir struck several hundreds of wellthroats V the volume

of joyous souSd

Healths were drunk and drunk again, Cliques were shattered, and long estab lished inhibitions dispelled. And the strains of “Auld Lang Syne rang out, sung in half a dozen keys simultaneous ly, and to any old words that suited the mood of the singers.

Such exaltation could not die with the hour. When an obdurate official insist ed on a closure at something like 4 a.m., private parties carried on the good work until the sun was fretting over the breakfast table. * * * E rry MEFFERD and Ray Kauffman,

tof yachf' “Hurricane” 5

J? Returned to America ami they tJ U.S. newspapers. Here is one of the stories told to the ever-credulous re porters, which will amuse residents of the South Seas: — At Tongareva, for a 6d. bar of soap, they bartered for £4 worth of native pearls. They found that

upon'fo 'inch ba"

Sundry soap, and blue-grained at that. * QEVERAL scores of athletic young (and youngish) men spent many strenuous and happy hours at Wau, New Guinea, on January’ 15, because there hangs upon the wall of the Wau Club a strangely-made object of nickel and w j re it consists of the inverted bowl of a kerosene lamp, with twisted wire legs and o ther attachments. It was made in 1933 by the i ngen i o us Mr. Mullins, engineer for Guinea Airways, named the “Butibum nnd nut no for comnetition be hl P ' f hp crl ?ketos of Wau audTe lt ™v not he wortT a Kill’s ransom ■ but

“dfleW

it is a tr °P h y neatly coveted. Wau has bad most of the success 50 far: but Lae came eagerly to the contest on January 15-and missed by the small margin of seven runs. At one staee, Lae had only 44 to make, with 4 wickets in hand: but in the last exciting half hour Wau’s

doughty bowler, Lowney (he finished with

6 for 38!) slew the Airways champions, and Lae bit the dust. The Laemen said afterwards that they were not defeated by science, but by the hospitality under which Wau’s tables groaned. * * *

THE following communication is to hand,

from the island of Nauru, where the younger generation has been taught to read and writs English:— Dear Sirs, — Please attach the following sentences to the “Monthly Pacific Islanders”, as mention here under:—

What Happen On Nauru.

During the King’s birthday celebration. Three Ellice boys who were taken to Nauru to work in Police Force.

They stole five bottles of beer from the Govern ment residency.

It was reported to his honour the Administrator by one of a Chinaman who work there as house boy.

This case was reported to the “Director Of Police” and nothing happen to be guilty or not.

This was on the 4th of May, 1938.

Sirs, how can I stop this yellow poison?

I am, yours, etc.,

Nauruan.

Editorial perspicacity has failed. Maybe some reader can make something of it.