Solomons

Conditions In The Solomons Hopes For Shore of The £50,000,000 Grant

From a Special Correspondent

Tulagi, Apl. 15.

LAST “Malaita” saw something of an exodus of Tulagi identities, two at least of whom have left us perman ently—Mr. E. Osborne, senior wireless officer, who has been in the Protectorate service since 1916; and Mr. J. Mutch, overseer in the Department of Works for upward of 25 years. Both of these gentle men will be greatly missed by the older hands, for both have been closely identi fied with Solomons interests and both are highly esteemed.

“Ossie’s” retirement is due to health reasons, the medical authorities be lieving that a cooler clime is necessary for permanent recuperation. Mrs. Osborne —who, prior to her marriage, was a nursing sister on the staff of the Tulagi Hospital—is also highly esteemed locally, having been the founder last year of the local active Red Cross organisation.

Local radio affairs are at present in charge of Mr. Bob. Taylor, who has spent over ten years as assistant to Mr.

Osborne. Bob. Taylor has lately been reading, with personal interest, the re cently published book “The Cruise of the Raider ‘Wolf’ ”, for he was one of the luckless band of seafarers and others who spent many months in captivity, ’tween decks on the “Wolf”, before be ing interned in Germany. He was radio operator on the ill-fated “Matunga” at the time of her capture.

“Jimmy” Mutch, a native of Aberdeen, has been largely responsible for the growth of Tulagi in buildings, wharves, etc. A bachelor, his home was always open to visitors, and his genial Scot tish temperament and obliging official methods made him one of the “bright spots”. In connection with his work, he had visited every district in the Pro tectorate, and was probably better known “outside” than any other Gov ernment officer.

Outgoing on the same “Malaita” was Dr. Critchlow, on furlough. “Critch” is on about the same level as “Jimmy”

Mutch in years of service and personal popularity. He is a pillar of the local Club, and plays a good hand of golf or bridge.

Tulagi was also sorry to lose Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Groves and their three girls.

With a long experience of tropical living behind them, Mr. and Mrs. Groves quickly adapted themselves to local social conditions, and made a host of friends, both at Tulagi and outside. In connection with his native educational survey, Mr. Groves travelled widely over the Protectorate, and everyone who had dealings with him found him approach able and congenial. It is rumored that there is a likelihood of Mr. Groves’s re turning to Tulagi eventually to take up some administrative post.

“Rufe” Naylor, popular member of the B.P. bachelors’ mess, also went out on leave. Rumor has it that he will no longer be eligible for the mess on his re turn. All Tulagi wish him and his bride all the best. 11THAT is Tulagi doing officially in con ff nection with the war? Ask the censor! All that can be said is that

the place is not asleep, as might be thought from the lack of publicity. Of special interest is a series of locally pro duced “Information Pamphlets”, of which No. 4 is just published. These pamphlets, which deal with the war situation from various angles, origin, de velopment, etc., are issued in English to the various Missions and Government officers, for native information—the Mis sions translating them and publishing the vernacular versions. There is no doubt that in the matter, and in matters connected with the war and the natives’ reaction to it, the Missions and Govern ment are in complete harmony and co operation.

An interesting native development here is the commencement, in an unpreten tious way, of the Boy Scout movement.

Mr. Eric Spencer, of the Lands and Works Department, a former Scout master of N.S.W., and an officer trainee of the R.A.A.F., has made a start with a few good-quality English-speaking lads, who are being trained to become troop leaders of the wider Scout organi sation of the future. It is prooosed to extend the scheme, through the Missions, over the Protectorate as a whole.

A new organisation is represented of the recently established Horticultural Society, launched under the patronage of the Resident Commissioner, with Mr.

A. H. (“Spearline’ ) Wilson, Commissioner for Lands and an enthusiastic horticul turist, as president. It is proposed to run periodical exhibitions and competitive shows, with special sections for native entries. rERE is promise of development in the gold mining industry at Guad alcanal, with the introduction by the Davis Syndicate of more advanced

mining methods, a quantity of improved sluicing machinery having arrived re cently.

The local Treasury will certainly wel come any tendency towards increased gold output, with the prospect of a large deficit at the end of the year and dis couraging economic conditions, which caused an unfavourable reaction to the recent increases in Customs tariff. It is hoped that the new Resident Commis sioner, who has travelled widely in the Protectorate since his arrival some months ago, may succeed in sponsoring some new line of agricultural or other economic development.

The various Missions are feeling the pinch owing to reduced revenue due to the war; and are finding it necessary in some cases to curtail their activities.

Hopes are high that the Protectorate will benefit substantially from the new £50,000,000 Colonial development grant to be spent over ten years, as announced recently by the Secretary of State. It is generally understood that most of the money is intended for native develop ment and welfare. The urgent needs in this connection in the Protectorate are for native agricultural development, and a scheme of controlled marketing, leprosy treatment, infant welfare, and a properly adapted system of education.

The survey recently conducted by Mr.

Groves may pave the way for this last, as well as for native development gener ally. In the case of leprosy treatment, the report of the 1937 survey of Dr. Ross- Innes is available for local guidance.

Mr. J. R. Byrne has taken up duties as manager of the Bank of N.S.W., at Wau, T.N.G., relieving Mr. A. S. Shaw, who returned to Australia.