The Pacific Islands Society
p. 78 · Read in the full issue
celebrated the 11th year of its existence with a well-attended sherry party at History House, Sydney, on June 23.
The Annual General Meeting was held on July 28.
The annual report and financial state ment were read, and showed a success ful year with increased membership and good attendances at meetings and social gatherings.
After the election of office bearers, the business of the meeting was adjourned until August, and the guest-speaker, the Rev. W. K. Deasey, delivered an address on Norfolk Island. Among the guests was Mrs. J. D. McComish whose late husband, Captain McComish, was an authority on this island.
Sir L. Brian Freeston, KCMG, OBE, Governor of Fiji and High! Commis sioner for the Western Pacific, has con sented to be Patron of the Society. The following were elected office-bearers for the' year ending June 30, 1949: President: Major C. A. Swinbourne; vice-presidents: Mrs. E. Marie Irvine, Dr. George Mac kaness, Messrs. G. D. Blaxland, Claude S. Israel, F. D. McCarthy and Alfred E.
Stephen; joint hon. secretaries: Mes aames M. K. Beasley and A. E. Sturt; Assistant hon. secretary: Mr. C. Price Conigrave; councillors: Mesdames N. S.
Williamson and H. C. Monckton, Miss Doris Peters, Major Clifford M. Southey, Messrs. Hubert Sabben, H. C. Monckton and A. E. Sturt; hostess: Mrs. E. Marie Irvine; Assistant hostesses: Mesdames G.
Mackaness and R. W. G, Gosset; hon, auditor; Mr. R. Clarke.
It was decided at this meeting to in crease the annual subscription from 5/to 10/- per annum.
Guest-speaker at the August meeting was Mrs. Jean Crofts, who took as her subject the life of the late Jack Hides, famous Papuan explorer and brother of Mrs. Crofts.
At the September meeting, Mr. A. T.
Gover will give an address entitled “Some Polynesian Voyages, and the Discovery of New Zealand.’’ On October 17 a garden party will be held at the home of Mrs.
E. Marie Irvine.
NEW MEMBERS; Mesdames Cradick, Donnan, Farleigh, Chidgey and Mc- Comish; the Misses Marie Mongan, Olga Northam and Ellen Chidgey; Messrs. G.
F. Cradick, Frank Pyne and Stuart Brown.