Jonah s Understudy In Eastern Pacific

From Our Own Correspondent

R Papeete, Oct. 3.

IS has been a year of strangely dis orderly weather. The sea has been particularly erratic.

A very high dignitary of one of the missions, a few months ago, visited Ta chartered the power schooner Denise to carry him on a tour of in spection to the several stations of the mission established on the Tuamotu and Austral Islands.

The “Denise” had barely cleared Ta hiti before she was beset by heavy weather. Wherever she went in the Tuamotu Group she encountered squalls, high seas and tempestuous winds.

At one atoll the passage into the la goon was so perilous that, when looking astern at the tumult of high waves and strong currents through which they had

fought their way, the passengers on the “Denise” marvelled at their escape from disaster.

Strange to relate, other schooners fol lowing approximately the same course— both ahead and behind the “Denise”— pursued their voyages through calm seas and favourable weather.

The storm kept pace with the “Denise” during her long voyage south to Tubuai, in the Australs, and on her return thence to Tahiti.

The crew—who, like all Tahitians, are well versed in the stories of the Bible— became convinced that they had on board the re-incarnation of the prophet, Jonah. It was not necessary, however, to cast him overboard to the whale; for the “Denise” returned safely at Tahiti (bringing the storm with her).

portion of New Guinea’s trade-biscuit needs.

Morobe Bakery, Ltd., (R. McEwen, managing director) started producing trade biscuits in Wau; but, although the market was excellent, the cost of air transport was embarrassing. So the bis cuit department was moved to Sala maua—the Wau factory makes only bread now.

Salamaua biscuits (staple food for native labourers) are going ever further afield—even Papua is buying them now.

Australian makers of trade biscuits do not like this new industry, and they cut the price from £29 to £l5 per ton; but the Salamaua factory has held and is ex tending its trade. * « * ALL is grist that comes to the Guinea Airways mill—all is considered in terms of either freight or passen gers. This “mary”, on her way with her man to a native labour line, is being ex pertly weighed at Wau by Mr. Les. Far-

mer, of G.A. —she goes at freight rates.

Native labourers are taken all over the Morobe goldfields in aeroplanes as cargo.

Mr. R. C. Hutchinson recently joined the staff of the Department of Agricul ture in Rabaul, New Guinea, as analy tical chemist. He had been lately engaged in research work in Townsville.

Rev. W. R. Castle, who carried out missionary work for some time at the Melanesian Mission’s station on the south coast of New Britain, returned to New Zealand recently to do deputation work in the Dominion on behalf of the N.Z.

Board of Missions. He is now residing in the Coromandel District to gain parish experience.