New President of Pacific

Islands Club

MR. A. E. Stephen, a pioneer of the phosphate industry in the Pacific (and a grandson of the late Sir Alfred Stephen, former Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales), has been elected president of the Pacific Islands Club in Sydney. Other officers elected were as follows: Chief tainess, Mrs. Alfred Page (Lefagoalii); deputy-chieftainess, Mrs. I. H. Meredith; treasurer, Miss Ella Small; secretary, Mr. Eric Ramsden; council (including the above), Messrs. A. J. Marshall, R.

G Gosset, Len Freeman, F. W. Hen nings, F. D. McCarthy, and Captain Middenway. The deputy-president is Mr. W. Taylor (Trade Commissioner for New Zealand).

“This society has great significance in relation to the Pacific,” declared Mr.

Stephen, “and I would like to see a mem bership of 500.”

Mr. Stephen, who was trained as an analytical and metallurgical chemist, about 40 years ago, was associated with expeditions in search for phosphates and mineral deposits in various parts of the Pacific, including the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, Gilberts, Marquesas, Pan motus, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Pitcairn, and Norfolk Island. The rich deposits at Makatea were discovered on one of these trips.

Mr. Stephen subsequently held import ant posts with the companies which established the phosphate industry in the Pacific. He has travelled exten sively, and has written numerous articles on travel and the production and uses of fertilizer materials.

Pastor F. W. Noak, of the Lutheran Mission in New Guinea, arrived at Bris bane by aeroplane early in May on fur lough.

Major C. A. Brewster, well-known Suva business man, returned to Fiji in April by the “Monterey” after a visit to Aus tralia.

“Route ‘A’ has been divided into four sections, and it is anticipated that it will be possible for tenders to be called at an early date for the construction of at least one section of the road.”