Marriages Askew?

INTERESTING possibilities are sug gested by the issue of a supplement to the official Gazette of the West ern Pacific High Commission, dated Feb ruary 7, It contains “an ordinance to remove doubts as to the validity of mar riages solemnised by'Rupert Stanley Bas tin, as deputy registrar of marriages.”

From a series of “whereases” it is learned that there was doubt whether marriages performed bv Mr. Bastin in the Gilbert and Ellice Colony, by virtue of an appointment given him on October 23, 1944, could be regarded as valid.

However, the new ordinance makes it impossible for anyone to regard such marriages as invalid by reason of any defect in such appointment.

Lieutenant Peter Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Martin, of Suva, has re turned home after lengthy military service with the New Zealanders. He was in Greece, in 1941, was in the naval action (having been picked up by a war ship) in which HMS “Fiji” was sunk, was with the Eighth Army from El Alamein to Tunisia, and went through Sicily and Italy, until put out of action by a wound at Cassino.