"No News Whatever"—

From Tahiti

From Our Own Correspondent

« Papeete, Dec., 20.

WERE it not for a very occasional tramp steamer which comes via Noumea to load copra for France —and an equally occasional steamer from New Zealand to load phosphate at Makatea, this colony would have been absolutely isolated during the past months.

This period, together with the isola tion of the war-years, has taught the people of the islands some lessons in self-denial and self-sufficiency which may prove of immeasurable value in the not distant future.

The really wise economists are honest enough to warn us that the full con sequences of the waste and destruction of war, will be during the years to come.

Island life is so uneventful, that the phrase “Aita Roa’tu vau i Faaroo noa’e i te Parau Api” (I have heard no news whatsoever) has become the standard reply to any inquiry concerning island happenings.

Even the small change of island gossip, has followed other currencies into the state of diminishing buying power.

There is a rumour that Mrs. Grundy stowed away on a cargo-steamer, and is now on the staff of a Hollywood Movie Magazine!

The Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. F. Nicoll, returned to Suva on December 23, after spending leave in the United Kingdom.

He travelled by A.N.A. plane from Aus tralia, where he represented Fiji at a meeting of the South Pacific Air Trans port Council.