Where Are Tonga's Rabbits

Now?

VTOT long ago, in Nukualofa, I buried ll an old Toneran who, when he was a boy, had won a prize for running down and catching rabbits, on Tonga tabu,” said the Rev. Rodger Page, in a recent chat.

Thus there came to light an interesting fact of natural history. Someone once released the fecund rabbit on Tongatabu, as in Australia and New Zealand; but the animals never became, in Tonga, the pest that they became in other South Pacific countries. Perhaps Tonga was a little too hot for them; or perhaps the natives were too fleet of foot and too eager for rabbit-meat—for unquestion ably according to Mr. Page, they could overtake and catch the rabbits.

Whatever the cause, there are no rab bits in to-day—although they did increase rapidly there, in the beginning.

The Chagrin chrome mine, situated on the Tiebaghi Dom or plateau in the north-west of New Caledonia, has been closed down for the past three months because of labour shortage following the release of Javanese and Indo-Chinese from their contracts. Melbourne capital is interested in this mine, which has been run on Australian shareholders’ behalf by a French company headed by M. Milliard.

The mine was acquired before the war from a French woman, Mme. Talon. The Australian shareholders have so far re ceived no dividends.

Mr. L. Bintley, who has been Govern ment Architect in Fiji since 1940, has been transferred to Kenya. He will be re placed by Major C. H. Nettleton, who is now on his way to Suva from Britain.