Drought In Central Pacific
p. 37 · Read in the full issue
rE severe drought which was being ex perienced in many islands of the Central and South-Western Pacific, at the beginning of the year, has broken, in the majority of cases; but, on last ad vices, there still has been no rain in many of the Line islands—especially the Northern Cooks, the southern islands of the Gilbert Group, and Ocean Island. It has been necessary to send rice and other commodities to assist the 4,000 natives who are drought-stricken in the South ern Gilberts; and it is reported, also, that water has been at a premium on Ocean Island.
The drought has broken in the far east —Pitcairn Island now reports all well— and in the far west of the Pacific.
Mr. W. Cottrell-Dorman, who has been appointed Director of Agriculture in the Tongan Government service, sailed from Sydney in the “Awatea” on May 20. Mr.
Cottrell-Dorman was previously in the employ of the Fairymead Suear Com pany at Bundaberg, Queensland, and recently has spent some time in the Solomon Islands, investigating the causes of “nut-fall” for that Company.