Tropicalities

NEW Zealand newspapers, at the end of June, foreshadowed the early con struction of two liners, each of 25,000 tons, to replace the Union Company’s “Aorangi” and “Niagara” in the Pacific service, between Sydney and Vancouver.

The vessels are to have each a speed of 22 knots, and each will carry 750 pas sengers.

As the same kind of optimistic an nouncement has been made at intervals during the past five years, residents of the Pacific can be pardoned if they do not treat the latest statement with any great respect.

It is worth noting that the “Niagara” was built in 1913, and the “Aorangi” in 1924. Both liners—but more especially the “Niagara”—do not find it easy to com pete with the more modem vessels of the Matson Line. The managers of the Matson Line, for their part, are now talking of replacing the “Monterey” and “Mariposa” with two more modern liners. * * * CAN anyone explain what this is all about: — “London, June 26. To Pacpub (Paci fic Publications Pty. Ltd.), Sydney.

World’s biggest slander and poison cam paign has failed to ruin me. My enemies are raving. Happy days to everybody. (Signed) C. Hughes”.

This is the third radiogram of a simi lar character, with the same signature, received from London by the "Pacific Islands Monthly” during the past twelve months. Is it a practical joke? If so, when do we laugh? * * * I.IARLY last year, a well-known New Vj Guinea miner was returning to his claim in the Wewak district, taking with him a cherished cat. In Wewak, before departing for his claim, he was eating his first meal in the only restaur ant the place boasted —a combination trade-store and “hash-house” run by a “Kong Kong”—wheh sleek pussy, rubbing herself against his legs as he sat eating, made him give thought to her welfare during his intended short stay in the district.

He called the Chinaman and, indicat ing the cat, told him to open a tin of meat and give it to her. Looking a trifle puzzled, the “Kong” obeyed. The cat immediately sent out a series of calls, which brought several others of the spec ies to join her in the meal.

The miner was rather startled at his cat’s generosity, but decided that if it was all right with her it was O.K. with him, too, and went on with his dinner.

When leaving, he pointed to the cat and instructed the Chinaman to give her a tin of meat every night until further no tice, and to charge her maintenance on his bill. The Chinaman, still looking rather mystified, but grinning widely, agreed.

Arriving at his temporary camp, the miner was met by his personal boy, who informed .him that “Puss cat ’im ’e no got kai-kai, master”.

“Puss cat ’im ’e kai-kai finish”, re plied the master.

“No got”, answered the native. “Puss cat ’im ’e no kai-kai something, ’im ’e ’ungry too mus”.

“Puss cat ’im ’e stop where?” inquired the master, now beginning to have an inkling of what had happened.

“Puss cat ’im ’e stop onetime me fella”.

The inkling became a certainty. The miner had “shouted” a meal for the Kong-Kong's own cat and her family. The standing order for the feline’s sustenance was cancelled next morning.—IMEB. * * * UNDER a double-column heading of “Doing Sums on a Tropic Isle”, the Melbourne “Herald” in June ran an which a fanciful picture was drawn"of a young man undergoing a two days’ examination in the Trobriand Is lands, Eastern Papua, while the Assistant Resident Magistrate sat solemnly at a distance and supervised. The young man was the assistant to the medical officer and he was one of 327 candidates, in Aus tralia and territories, for air pilot’s licence, second class. According to the “Herald” writer, while the young man in side wrestled with his examination prob lems, an admiring circle of Trobriand is landers sat outside under the palm trees and watched the sparkling sea and told each other, “That feller plenty big swot”.

Such is journalism in our time. * * * A MURDER occured in an outback vil lage in Papua, where only recently a village constable had been sta tioned. The newly appointed dignitary promptly arrested a small boy and, tak ing him down to the coast, eventually entered the Resident Magistrate’s office grinning broadly.

“There’s been a murder”, he announced proudly, “and I’ve brought you a prisoner.”

The Magistrate looked doubtfully at the youth with handcuffs on his wrists He was not more than 12 years of age.

“But surely”, he protested, “this young boy has not killed anybody?”

“Oh, no”, the constable replied. “He had nothing to do with it.”

“Then why have you brought him?”

“You see, sir”, the constable explained

eagerly, “you told me to bring a prisoner along every time a man is killed. The man who did the killing said he did not want to come, so I brought this boy in stead. He was the only one I could get!’’ * * * CIAN any student of Pacific history say j who Mount Gower (one of the two main peaks of Lord Howe Island) was named after? Mr. Arthur Peck, of 99 Queen Street, Melbourne, who has been visiting the island, wants to know.

Lieut. Lidgbird Ball, of H.M.S. “Supply”, found the island on February 17, 1788, and gave his name (Mt. Lidgbird) to the other peak. But who was Gower?

Mr. Peck reports that, last year, 22,000 rats (destroyers of the Kentia palm seed) were killed on the island, and a bounty of 3d. each was paid on their tails. The bounty now is down to 2d. per tail. Ken tia palm seed is now worth £l2 per bushel.

Monsieur Cassagne, Commissioner of Police at Vila, New Hebrides, left for fur lough in France by the “Sagittaire” in mid-June. He has been in the Group foi six years.