Short News And Comments

MR. John McAdam Frame, second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Frame, of Port Moresby, was married in Port Moresby on December 21 to Miss Monica Faith Mathews, second daughter of Rev.

H. Mathews and Mrs. Mathews, of Port Moresby. The bride’s father, the Rector of St. John’s conducted the service. The bride was attended by her two sisters, Misses Margery and Valery, as brides maids. Mr. W. Crosby was best man.

This wedding linked two well known Papuan families. Mr. and Mrs. Frame have spent over 20 years in the country, and Rev. H. Mathews and Mrs. Mathews have lived for many years in Port Moresby. * WHEN the train carrying the people rescued from the German raiders arrived in Sydney on Sunday, January 5, Australian radio listeners were treated to about half an hour’s dreadful oratory by a battery of Australia’s bab bling politicians, both Federal and State.

One had a mental picture of hundreds of unfortunates lined up on the arrival platform, while the Commonwealth and State “leaders” orated at them. If the gentlemen had said anything worthy of note, the thing would have been ex cusable. As it was, it was simply terrible.

The Governor-General’s welcome was brief and dignified—and sufficient.

Not one of the orators, busily collecting publicity for himself, thought it necessary to say a word of praise for the people who really had done so much for the refugees —as, for example, the neople of Rabaul, and the kindly folk in the Australian coastal towns through which the train had passed.

And, above all, not one word was said about the kindness and sacrifice of Mr. and Mrs. Cook and Mr. and Mrs. Collett, the lone Europeans residing in Emirau Island. The Cooks and the Colletts did not babble platitudes at the survivors— they simply gave up their houses, and their precious stores, and everything that they had, in order to help the unfor tunates—and as far as one can ascertain, they have not received, therefor, any official thanks.

fITHE Pacific Ts- A lands Society’s 1940 prize, awarded to the Suva Medical School, has been won by Native Medical Practi tioner John Wes ley Kere. Mr. Kere is the sixth Solo mon Islander to be trained at the Suva Medical School as an NMP and is the second to obtain this par ticular prize. He received his prim ary education at the Methodist Mis-

sion in the Solomons; and at the' Suva Medical School, in addition to win ning a special prize in surgery, he became noted as an athlete. He was captain of the Rugby team which won the Farebrother Trophy. * ONE of the most successful functions ever organised by the Pacific Islands Society took place on January 7, when officials of the Society entertained at a sherry party, in the Carlton Hotel, Sydney, the delegates to the Pacific Copra Conference. The function was attended

by representatives of Australian interests connected with the Pacific and by the official representatives of other countries, especially Holland and France, Two well known American journalists, who hap pened to be in Sydney that day, were also present, and had useful conversations with the men from the Pacific ad ministrations. *

Death Sentences Commuted

rE two big Nambas, natives of the New Hebrides, murderers of M.

Mazoyer, who were condemned to death on February 27 by the Con dominium Criminal Court, have had their sentences commuted to 10 years’ hard labour, in accordance with the decision of the French and British Resident Com missioners. *

That New Year Outlook

HERE is a New Year’s note from a well-known resident of the Solomon Islands: — ‘T don’t suppose you want to hear any more moans about copra, the short comings of governments, and the copra wreck. I have plenty of inspiration for a book full of 'moans when I look out from my window and see the ground covered with growing nuts, that now are not worth a darn.

“I find, incidentally, that we cannot do without the PIM. That, and the Bulletin and the North Queensland Register are about the best periodicals for the men in the Islands.” *

Bulolo’S Spitfire

THE people of the Morobe Goldfield in New Guinea have decided to subscribe sufficient money—about £5,000 —to purchase a Spitfire fighting ’plane, and already there is rivalry between the five sections of the Morobe Goldfield as to which can. per capita of population, make the best showing in this contri bution to Britain’s war effort. Wau held a sports meeting on New Year’s Day and got a good lead —but now Bulolo, Edie Creek, Salamaua and Lae are coming along in great style.

There was a wood-chopping competi tion at the Wau sports meeting which attracted much attention. Edie Creek has formed an axemen’s association, and G. Gow, of Edie Creek, won the Under hand Chop. But R. Fitzgerald, of Kor anga, Wau, won the Standing Chop, so honours were even. * ONE day, in December, Mr. Guy Cad den was walking near his home in Samarai, Papua, when he heard a tree crack overhead, and ran. The fall ing tree missed Mr. Cadden bv the pro verbial whisker—but it smashed across the electric light wires and plunged a part of Samarai into darkness. Long and industrious work by white ants, plus a strong sou’-wester, had caused the acci dent. Mr. Cadden returned home and wrote a letter south, ordering a ticket in a certain lottery.

Recently, Koitaki Para Rubber Estates, Ltd., which operates in Papua, appealed to the High Court of Australia against an assessment by the Federal Commis sioner of Taxation, wherein he claimed income tax. The Company claims that it was domiciled in Papua, and therefore was not subject to Australian Income Tax. But the appeal was dismissed. The Court pointed out that the comnany was incorporated in NSW, and held that it had not become a resident of Papua.

There is warning here for several com panies which may be similarly placed.

J. W. Kere. NMP.