"Cheerio" From Canada

Letter to the Editor THIS is a letter of gratitude from two late residents of Wau, New Guinea, who derive great pleasure from the “Pacific Islands Monthly.” You have no idea how your paper helps to shorten the distance between us and our friends, as it contains many items of news which would not reach us under normal cir cumstances.

We are, firstly, Jess Dobbin (nee Hob ler) who was for some years employed by the Administration in Wau, and secondly, Leonard Dobbin, who was em ployed by Guinea Airways, Ltd., as ground engineer at Wau. We were mar ried at Wau in September, 1938, and arrived in this country on furlough a week before war was declared. Our pre sent occupations are: Jess is struggling with Canadian food and rationing, and Len is Superintendent of Maintenance at

an Air Observer’s School (Empire Air Training Scheme), learning how to run aeroplanes in 50 degrees below zero weather.

Once in a while we either see or hear of some New Guinea folk in this part of the world. For instance, Ted Ditton and Graham Jackson, late of Guinea Air ways, Ltd., Wau, with their wives, are stationed in Montreal, and Bill Roberts, Jack McDonald and P/O Rowlands have visited us.

We look forward to the day when we can return to New Guinea and our friends and once again enjoy the tropical sun. We are, etc.,

Jess And Len Dobbin.

10236, 123rd St., Edmonton, Canada, 22/2/43.

Lieutenant R. C. Symes, who formerly was well known as a planter in the Solomon Islands, is now a lieutenant in the service of the British Solomon Islands Defence Force.