Great Changes In One

Pacific Group

TIMES have changed even here in Haapai.

Haapai, part of the Kingdom of Tonga, is a scattered archipelago of about 50 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. It is considered that the name is derived from “Savai’i” the island in Samoa from which the ancient Tongans probably came.

Before World War II each of these in habited islands had one, two or more trading stations. In Lifuka, the seat of the Haapai government, there were 10 stores. To-day, not one trading station exists on any of those islands; and in Lifuka there are now only three stores —Burns Philp, Morris Hedstrom and G.

Riechelmann.

If one looks into any of these stores, he will find empty shelves kerosene, matches, tobacco, sugar, flour and corned beef are, most of the time, unprocurable.

Textiles, such as calico or other soft goods, make their appearance only once or twice in a year.

Not only are these stores empty, but the cash box of the Haapai Copra Board is very often empty too, so that often they have to suspend copra-weighing for weeks at a time.

When I arrived in Haapai, in 1885,

there were over 100 Europeans in the Haapai Group. To-day, Haapai can count only five in Lifuka, besides one Father and two Sisters of the Catholic Mission. On all the other islands of the Haapai group, only one other European is still alive your humble servant and correspondent,—F. T. GOEDICKE-VAN

Asten.

The large US Navy camp known as the Receiving Station, lying on the slopes back of Anse Vata beach, has been bought by the Colony of New Caledonia and is to house 250 people. Large families are to be given priority in the huts formerly used as US officers’ quarters. The move should do something to lessen the local housing shortage.

M. Georges Bailly, acting Port-Captain of Papeete, left Tahiti for United States in June. M. Bailly, in San Francisco, will inspect one or two schooners which

the French Government contemplates buying for transport purposes in French Oceania.

The French-operated Catalina belong ing to the Societe Francaise de Transports Aeriens du Pacifique Sud has arrived at its Noumea base. There is a flying crew of four, two radio operators and two mechanics. The plane should be a boon to French communication services in the area.