New Telephones
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
THE telephone exchanges at both Port Moresby and Rabaul have been equipped lately with new switch boards, so that a larger number of at tendants may be employed and a quicker service given to the ever increasing num bers of telephone subscribers.
Specially-trained natives from the village of Hanuabada have been for years employed as switchboard operators at the Port Moresby telephone exchange: and, although persons there have occa sionally been seen to curse their tele phones and dance with rage, the service generally has been satisfactory.
Rev. E. A. and Mrs. Clarke, of the Methodist Mission at Salamo, Papua, arrived in Sydney recently. Mr. Clarke has been in ill-health for some time and came to Australia for medical attention.
They proceeded to South Australia for a holiday.
Messrs. W. A. Holloway and D. H.
Baker, who have been workers at the Melanesian Mission’s station at Taro aniara, on Gela Island, 8.5.1., passed through Sydney recently on their return to New Zealand.
His Honour Judge F. B. Phillips, Chief Justice of New Guinea, received recently the degree of Master of Laws of Mel bourne University. He is an old boy of one of Melbourne’s larger Public Schools, and graduated Bachelor of Laws at Mel bourne in 1914, and subsequently served in the war of 1914-18. Prior to his ap pointment to the New Guinea judiciary about 15 years ago, he spent a year or so in the Solomons, on an official investi gation concerning alienation of native lands. His work in this connection was very thorough, and he demonstrated a keen insight into native customs. He re
ceived a stout welcome from his old friends on a visit to that Diace, early this year, with a party of Rabaulites do ing a round trip. Chief Justice Phillips is at present on leave from the Terri tory and is serving in an administrative appointment with the RAAF.
Mr. Bruce Chapman, of the staff of Burns, Philp and Co., at Makambo, ESI. and well known also as supercargo of inter-island vessels in the Solomons, who recently left Tulagi to seek war service, has received an appointment as Paymaster Sub-lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy.