From New Caledonia To

Syria

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, Oct. 16.

MONSIEUR Bayardelle, until recently New Caledonian Secretary General (the most important official in the Colony after the Governor), has been nominated to take up a Free French Government appointment at Beirut, Syria, now completely under British and Free French control.

During the past couple of months, M.

Bayardelle has been working at Free French headquarters in London, under General de Gaulle.

Following the collapse of France, the Bordeaux (Vichy) Government appointed M. Bayardelle Governor of New Caledonia in place of Monsieur Pelicier, but he re fused the appointment. It was accepted instead by Lieut.-Col. Denis, whose un popular reign lasted only three weeks—

but long enough to bring about the “revolution” in favour of Free France.

The Administration has announced that the Bataillon de la Pacifique, consisting of New Caledonian and Tahitian volun teers, is now serving in Syria.

Mr. Bjarne Christensen, an officer on Pan American Airway’s luxury yacht “Southern Seas” at Noumea, recently married Mademoiselle Irene Pesnel, at Noumea Cathedral. M. Nicolas Hagen, prominent New Caledonian merchant, and Captain Beardsall, of the “Southern Seas”, took part in the ceremony.

Mr. Fritz Bunge-Krueger, formerly of Apia, left Rarotonga, Cook Is., in October on a business trip to New Zealand and Western Samoa. This young man has shown just what an enterprising Euro nesian can do —arriving in Rarotonga two years ago, he built and opened a modern bakery and tea-shop, both of which have been successfully conducted.

The major golf event on the Morobe Goldfields of New Guinea, the Waterhouse Trophy, was won by Bulolo team in October, beating Wau 10 matches to 5 in the final.