Trochus Shell Protected in N
pp. 32-34 · Read in the full issue
N. Hebrides
A NEW law issued in the New Hebrides prohibits the removal, sale, or ex port of trochus and certain other shell from the New Hebrides without licence. The regulations contain some drastic provisions.
If the purpose of the new law is to prevent the robbing of the shell beds in the New Hebrides by Japanese poachers and others, it is a good example of lock ing the stable door after the horse has escaped. The damage done to beds of shell in the New Hebrides and neigh bouring groups by Japanese poachers dur the last few years will not be restored for many years, if ever.
Flying-Officer F. B. Phillips, formerly Chief Judge of the Supreme Court at Rabaul, New Guinea, has begun duty as legal officer at Southern Command, R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne, after graduating from a four weeks’ admini strative course. Born at Ballarat 49 years ago, Flying-Officer Phillips was admitted to the Bar in 1915, and left Australia in the ranks of the Australian Army Medical Corps in 1917. Early in 1918, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps as air mechanic (clerk), later becoming an ob server with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
He became a Judge of the Supreme Court
of New Guinea in 1928, was Acting-Ad ministrator in 1929. In May, 1937, in the volcanic eruption, he organised the evacu ation of 9,000 people from Rabaul.
Rev. W. J. Durrad, a member of the Melanesian Mission from 1905 to 1919 and who is now resident in New Zealand, is the author of a series of articles en titled “Notes on the Torres Islands”, now appearing in the anthropological journal “Oceania”. Mr. Durrad spent six years in the Torres Islands (north-west of the New Hebrides) and eight years in the Banks Islands.
Patrol Officer Donald McPhee, of the New Guinea Administration, died on July 13 at Wewak, from septicaemia following a ruptured appendix. Joining the Service in 1936, he became a P.O. in the middle oi 1938 and served in the Salamaua and Sepik Districts. Mr.
McPhee, who was a son of the Hon. Sir John McPhee, a former Premier of Tasmania, was very highly regarded by officials and residents of the areas in which he served.
Miss Betty Reeves, of the Rabaul staff of Burns, Philp &! Co., Ltd., has been transferred to the Port Moresby branch in Papua.