War News On Remote

Islands

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete. Oct. 20.

mHOSE who were in the Islands years ago, can appreciate the astonishing advance in world communication since that time.

There was no wireless apparatus on Tahiti in 1914. We learned of the be ginning of the Great War from a cryptic message picked up by a steamer, equipped with wireless, whicl? happened to be in the harbour. We knew nothing of the anxious first weeks of the war until we read of them in newspapers from abroad, long after the event.

In 1939, nearly every island of French Oceania possesses one or more radio re

ceiving sets. Daily, the broadcasts of news from London and Paris are heard clearly. Each morning, the Department of Post and Telegraph issues a printed bulletin of news from all parts of the world. Twice weekly a digest of news, in the Tahitian language, is broadcast by the Tahiti radio station. An accurate summary of the news is printed in “Te Vea Maoh”.

Inhabitants of the most remote islands of the South Sea are now as well in formed as are the dwellers in the metro politan areas of continental lands.

Mr. David Browne, the genial and popu lar Resident Agent of the island of Atiu (Cook Group), arrived in Rarotonga by the “Tiare Taporo” in October. He is noted for his success in handling either oranges or natives.

Miss H. Simmonds, of South Australia, has been accepted by the Methodist Mission Board for service in the Islands.