About Islands People

Mr. M. Harper, of Mandoliana Planta tion, Solomon' Islands, who has rendered distinguished service as an RANR man in the United States Navy, and who has been decorated by tne Americans, writes a cheery letter, sending regards to old friends. He has been in most of the big American “landings” in the Pacific —he was in both the Saipan and Guam inva sions; and, since he wrote, probably has been in the Philippines affair.

Major E. B. Ayris, once a well-known resident of Wau, New Guinea, has been rendering service in “small boats” during the past two years, and appears to have “lived dangerously” during various opera tions in the South-west Pacific. “I have seen quite a lot—an experience I am for tunate to have been accorded at my age,”

Flying-Officer George Bielby Evans, of New Guinea, who is a prisoner of war in Japanese hands, was seen in Thailand in April, 1944, and was well. This informa tion has been officially conveyed to the lad’s parents, who now live in North Sydney.

The ever-restless Ray Parer, of New Guinea, who at last account was owner of a grocery in East Sydney, is now chief engineer on a “small boat” engaged on military service in north-eastern Austra lian waters.

Major Bill Watson, DSO, MC, DCM, one of New Guinea’s most distinguished and most decorated soldiers, is now in the United States.

Mr. Alan H. Russell, resident manager of the Commercial Union group of insur ance companies in Australia for many years, retired in September, and was suc ceeded by Mr. G. W. Giddy. Mr. Russell is one of Australia’s best-known figures in the insurance world, and he several times visited the Pacific Territories.

Mr. Robert Bruce, formerly a resident of the New Hebrides, is now running small ships for the Americans in waters north-east of Australia. He reports that he has Mr. Jack Stott, formerly of Bulolo, as his chief; and that Mr. Charles King (or Koenig), an old resident of Gus Nel son’s time in Eastern Papua, died recently after a heart-attack.

Mr. Edward Annandale, general mana ger of Messrs. O. F. Nelson & Co., Ltd., of Western Samoa, is in Australia on a. business visit. He is well-known in the Central Pacific. He married one of the daughters of the late Hon. O. F. Nelson,

Mlc.

Chief Judge and Mrs. J. R. Herd re cently left Western Samoa on a prolonged holiday in New Zealand. Judge H. A.

Young, who has been a Magistrate in the Transvaal and, for the last 38 years, in New Zealand, recently arrived in Samoa to take over during the absence of Chief Judge Herd.

Mr. R. G. Speirs, of the Central Office of the Administration, who has ter minated his term of office in Samoa, and Mr. J. Adkins, of the Apia branch of the Bank of New Zealand, who has been transferred to New Zealand, recently departed from Samoa.

The health of Rev. A. P. Jennings, who has been on sick leave in Australia for some time, has improved so much that he hopes to return to Papua in November.