About Islands People

Miss K. Deck, who for the past 32 years has been engaged in mission work in the Solomon Islands for the S.S.E. Mission, is at present on furlough in Sydney, She will return to the Mission’s head station at One Pusu, Malaita, in April or May.

Inspector E. Steeples, of the N.G.

Police Force, at Wau, is at present on leave. Warrant Officer P. D. Moncur is relieving him.

Mr. George Arnold, one of the best known “old timers” of the New Guinea goldfields, was brought to Sydney in January for urgent medical treatment.

He was conveyed from Madang by a Douglas machine, now being used in an aerial survey of possible oil country; con nected with the Carpenter Airways machine at Salamaua; was met in Towns ville by Dr. W. Calov, of Sydney; and was taken at once to a private hospital in Sydney. Hundreds of friends of “Little George” will hope for his speedy recov ery.

M. Labaxe, of the Police Department of the Colony of New Caledonia, left Noumea by the “Commissaire Hamel” on February 11.

Miss J. McCluggage, of the Central Administration, Rabaul, New Guinea, ar rived in Sydney by the “Malaita” on February 11 on leave. She will later pro ceed to New Zealand.

M. Griscelli, a school teacher at Voh school, New Caledonia, left Noumea for Europe by the “Commissaire Hamel” early in February on leave.

Captain W. Noak, aged 90, was knock ed down by a car on Thursday Is., on January 23, and later died in hospital.

The accident was the first of its kind on the island.

M. Dumoulin, head of the Department of Justice of New Caledonia, left Nou mea for France by the “Commissaire Hamel” on February 11 on leave.

Mr. R. N. Sanders, B.V.Sc., left Sydney for Suva, Fiji, by the “Niagara” in mid- January to take up the position of vet erinary officer to the Fijian Government.

Since graduating from Sydney University in 1936, Mr. Sanders has been technical research assistant to Dr. R. M. C. Gunn, lecturer in Veterinary Surgery and An atomy at the University of Sydney. His work in Fiji will be mainly in animal improvement, research work on patho logical lines, animal husbandry, and the control of what little disease is preva lent there, M. Kervistin left Noumea, New Cale donia, on February 11 for Marseilles, France, where he will spend furlough. He is well known in the Colony as head of the Department of Education.

Mr. O. B. Hart, who was acting man ager of Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., dur ing the recent absence abroad of Mr.

Joubert, returned to New Guinea by the “Bulolo” in February, after six weeks in Sydney. Mr. Hart, in future, will be as sistant manager of Bulolo Gold Dredg ing, Ltd., in New Guinea, in addition to continuing his position as construction engineer.

Brigadier-General Sir Walter Mc- Nicoll, Adminis trator of New Guinea, together with Lady McNicoll, sailed from Sydney for Rabaul, by the “Tanda” on Janu ary 14, after four months’ holiday in Australia and the East.

Mr. G. F. Gee, an officer in the Agri cultural Department of the N.G. Adminis tration, sailed from Sydney for Rabaul, New Guinea, by the “Tanda” on Janu ary 14.

Mrs. G. F. Gee returned to New Guinea, with her husband (above), after 3 months’ fur lough in Australia.

Hon. J. T. O’Mal ley, Commissioner for Native Affairs, left Sydney for Port Moresby, Papua, by the "Macdhui” on January 18, after several months’ leave.

Mr. W. R. Hum phries, Resident Magistrate at Port Moresby, Papua, re turned to the Ter ritory by the “Macdhui” in mid- January.