Effort To Save Trocas

Shell

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, May 10.

THE Fiji Government has placed abso lute protection upon all Trocas Shell, of the kind known as Trochus Niloticus, which measures less than 21 inches across the mouth whorl. No per son may take, sell or export it.

This is an attempt to save the “chicken shell” and protect a valuable industry. But small trocas shell-fish are much sought after by the Fijians as an article of food, and the policing of the new law will be no easy matter. It should not be difficult to prevent the sale and handling of the shell; but how can one prevent the natives going out onto the reefs after one of their regular food stuffs?

Mrs. C. R. Field, wife of the New Guinea Director of Public Works, died recently in West Australia. Mr. Field returned to New Guinea, after furlough, in January, and was in Rabaul when the Jap invasion took place. His fate, like that of other departmental heads (Messrs. Harold Page, G. G. Hogan, H.

O. Townsend, and George Murray) is unknown.

Rev. A. E. Corner, who had been organising secretary in England for the Melanesian Mission since 1906 and com missary for the Bishops of Melanesia since 1915, died at Bournemouth, Hants., England, on April 17. During his long years of association with the Melanesian Mission, he travelled many thousands of miles throughout the British Isles, addressed many hundreds of meetings, and raised a very considerable sum of money for use in extending the Mis sion’s work in the Western Pacific.

Nearly 80 years of age, he was one of the few remaining members of the Mis sion who knew the pioneer Bishop John Selwyn.