Dead One"

"Nothing For

By J. W. Dixon, in the “Missionary Review”

APIRAKAI was a local man who had been unofficially connected with us for some years and eventually came on the station as a student.

When the station was left without white supervision, Apirakai considered himself the guardian of all that was there. On one occasion a group of Aus tralians came on to the station and de cided that the best souvenir they could appropriate was the bell, (What they intended to do with it only they knew.) But Meliba, Apirakai’s wife, saw this and ran to tell her husband. In a few minutes Apirakai was seen standing at the bell defying anyone to remove it. The would-be souvenir hunters beat a re treat. The bell still rings merrily for school sessions and church services.

When the Rev. H. T. Williams returned to East Cape last January, one of the first things he saw was a notice written by hand and pinned on a blackboard in the church. It read: “REWARD £5 (100 shillings) For Japan Airman captured alive nothing for dead one.

Instructions for capture. If airman

is left in his dinghy for a few hours he can be captured with no fear of re sistance. Search him for pistols and knives as soon as he is captured. If airman is dead bring all papers and clothing (calico) here. There will be a small reward for this also any papers inside the aeroplane.”

A second paper read: “If Australian or American come down Go to help quickly—Very big reward.”

Alongside these papers were trans lations into the East Cape tongue made by Apirakai. There were also rough, coloured sketches teaching the people how to recognise the different nationalities of the planes.

NOUMEA, Nov. 21.—The Governor of New Caledonia, M. Tallec, broadcast a message to the French inhabitants of Australia and the people of French Pacific territories on the recent occasion of the opening of the French legation at Canberra, and the recognition by the Commonwealth Government of the Pro visional Government of the French Re public.

Sir Howard Ellis and Lady Ellis have left Suva, Fiji, for a holiday in New Zea land. Sir Howard has been in ill-health.

He hopes to return about January next.