Walpole Island Guano
pp. 65-66 · Read in the full issue
IT is estimated that there are about 100.000 tons of alluvial guano on Wal nole Island, a small French island about 150 miles south of New Caledonia.
Some 20 years ago. a syndicate com menced to exploit the guano and, for about 10 years, 10,000 tons a year was exnorted. Then production practically ceased: but. over the past five years, occasional shipments have been sent to whatever market was available. Consider able quantities had been going to New Zealand but nothing has been exported since February.
There are about 4.000 tons of guano on the island, ready for shipment; but, ow ing to lack of shinning, production has ceased and. unless the position improves, the staff of about 60 whites and labourers will be evacuated shortly.
Among Territories men who were ad mitted to the Royal Australian Air Force early in November were lan Loudon, of Papua; A. T. Timperley, a patrol officer from Papua; and N. P.
Hawke, of Kavieng, New Guinea.
Captain Andrew Rule, a Thursday Is land coastal pilot, arrived in Sydney re cently for medical treatment. Some time ago Mr. Rule fell on the deck of a vessel he was piloting and sustained severe knee injuries.