Lands Officials For
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
G. And E. Colony
AT last steps have been taken by the British Colonial Office to clear up the unsatisfactory position relating to land titles that has existed for so long in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.
Making use of the new British Colonial grant, five officials have been appointed to constitute a Lands Commission for the Colony: and it is expected that the Commission will be established and at work within a few months.
Two of the officials, Lieut.-Colonel P.
B. Laxton, M.C., and Major M. M.
Townsend, M.C., passed through Sydney in January en route from England to the Gilbert Islands. They joined one of the British Phosphate Commission’s vessels in Melbourne and proceeded to Ocean Island, whence they will go on to Tarawa and Abemama. Lieut.-Colonel Laxton served in Burma in World War 11, and Major Townsend in Europe.
These five officials have been appointed for seven years, and it is expected that, at the end of that time, the land titles position in the Colony will be in a much more satisfactory condition.
Before Mrs. J. Gleeson left Brisbane for New Guinea by plane on December 6 she was given a farewell party at Lennon’s Hotel by her sister, Mrs. Brian Sylvester, and Mrs. G. Prendergast.