Expedotion

Links With De Rays

(A Letter to the Editor) IN your September issue under the title “J. O. Moulton,” it is stated that he was the last surviving link with the famous and ill-fated Marquis de Rays’ expedition.

This is not correct—there are in Noumea two survivors—two sisters. They are the daughters of the late Mr. Maffoni who died in Noumea in 1908 and of Mrs.

Maffoni who died in 1906 also in Noumea.

They left Barcelona (Spain) on board “LTndia” on May 15, 1880. The Maffoni family, of Italian origin, consisted of the father and mother and four children: two boys and two girls. The two boys died at sea, due to the hardships of the voy age.

The two survivors are now: Madame

Eugene Vincent (nee Mafoni), born in 1870, in Piemont (Italy). She was 10 years old when she reached ill-fated Port-Breton in New Ireland. And Madame Neol Cacot (nee Mafoni) born in 1872 in Piemont.

Both have raised large families in New Caledonia, and are highly esteemed and respected. To-day, Madame Vincent is totally blind, but Madame Cacot is hale and hearty at 74 years of age.

I am, etc.,

Sidney Reichenbach

New Caledonia, November 18, 1946.

Mr. O. J. Lodge, of the staff of the Suva Town Board, has been appointed Health Inspector, Tanganyika. He will leave Fiji for New Zealand shortly, where, he will spend a short period of leave.

Mr. R. J. A. Lever who has been Gov ernment entomologist in Fiji and the Solomon Islands since 1930, has been transferred to Malaya. He is at present in the United Kingdom, on leave, and will commence his new duties at its term ination. Mr. Lever is a highly qualified man holding the degrees of Dunclan.

London and Trinidad institutions, and he gave valuable service in the South Pacific during 15 years.