The Pacific Islands

Society

EVIDENCE that the Pacific Islands Society is increasing in popularity has been seen in the crowded gatherings at History House, Sydney.

On October 22, a racy address was given by Rear-Admiral H. J. Feakes, CBE, RAN (retired), on “Here and There in the East.”

The Admiral, both when on service and since his retirement, has been a great traveller in the East and his illustrated descriptions of many places in Malaya, Indo-China, China and Japan were de lightful.

At the Society’s meeting on November 26, members and guests were again taken in imagination to many parts of the East, when Mr. E. Fancourt, of Messrs. Burns Philp & Co., screened colour films illus trating a pre-war tour. Scenes were shown on a typical trip on a BP steamer by way of the Great Barrier Reef to Papua and New Guinea, thence to the Philippines, Malaya, Indo-China and Hongkong.

Oustanding shots shown by Mr. Fan court were those of the vast temples re claimed from the all-conquering jungle by the French authorities at Angkor, in the centre of Indo-China. Mr. Fancourt explained how, within comparatively re cent years these immense ruins had been reclaimed from the jungle that for so long had hidden them.

Visitors included Sister Lucy Clarke formerly of the Suva War Memorial Hos pital, and Major Hugh Cameron of the Travel Department of Burns Philp & Co., Ltd.

An enjoyable cocktail party was held by the Society at History House, on the late afternoon of December 8, at which a large number of islanders foregathered.

New Members

NEW members elected are: Mr. and Mrs. George A. Young, CSR Co., Sydney; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Leem bruggen, 81 Roslyn Gardens, Potts Point; Mr. Norman L. Bell. Inspector, Western Division, Bank of NSW, 341 George Street, Sydney; Miss M. M. McGann, 15 Herbert Street, Dulwich Hill, and Mrs. P. S. Mc- Dermott, 36 Upper Clifford Avenue, Manly.