Sponges In Papuan Waters

Y'HE following interesting data about

a possible sponge industry in the Pacific (see December “PIM”) is sup plied by Mr. D. H. Osborne, of Port

Moresby :

SIR WILLIAM MacGREGOR granted Captain Wickham a concession of the lagoon and reefs of the Conflict Group (Eastern Papua) so that he might cultivate sponges and pearl-shell. For several years boats were allowed to anchor only for shelter at the Conflicts.

To encourage propagation, small pieces of sponge were fastened by wire on to frames; but the strong tides capsized the frames and swept them away. I do not know what happened to the pearl-shell.

Captain Wickham planted one island of the Group (Pana Sera) with coconuts. He cleared tracks through the jungle, and planted the nuts 40 ft. apart. Later, when others bought the Group, the jungle was cleared.

Small white sponges, about the size of a duck-egg, are numerous on the reefs of Rossel Island. Almost every native carries a sponge in his basket—men use them to wipe their faces, and women to wash their children.

On the Barrier Reef sponges grow prob ably a foot long. They have hard spots in them. I have found them useful for mopping out dinghies, instead of using a bailer. I sent some of them to Brisbane, for washing aluminium, but they scratch too much and were rejected.

Mr. P. Nightingale, who has been acting as Fiji Financial Secretary, left Suva for Auckland by air on December 14, en route to the United Kingdom, where he will spend a period of leave.

Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Forbes left Suva for Auckland by air on December 15. After a period of leave in the United Kingdom, Mr. Forbes will take up his new post of Legal Draughtsman, Malayan Union. He will be remembered in Fiji for his work in connection with the recent Revision of the Laws of the Colony. It is expected that the final volumes of the Revised Lav/s will be published early in 1947. Mrs. ' Forbes was an active worker in women’s organisations in Suva during the war.

Recently she has been Secretary of the Fiji Patriotic Knitting and Sewing Circle.

The late A. L. Braisby, Inspector of Police in Western Samoa, with four of his NCO’s. In spector Braisby’s death, on November 11, was reported in December “PIM.”