Pacific
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
Sir Brian Freeston In Southwest Pacific
From Our Own Correspondent HONIARA, March 22.
UNFAVOURABLE weather complicated the first visit of the High Com missioner (Sir Brian Freeston) to the Solomons Protectorate. When the RNZAF Catalina in which he was travel ling attempted to touch down at Point Cruz, near Honiara, on March 18, it bounced so violently that the pilot de cided to carry on to Tulagi, 20 miles away.
Honiara’s welcome, plus a guard of honour, treated the mishap as a dress rehearsal, and turned out again the fol lowing morning when his Excellency arrived from Tulagi in MV “Kurimarau”.
He was accompanied by Mr. Hill (second assistant secretary in the WPHC office) as ADC and by Mr. A. Hayden, Director of Education in Fiji.
His Excellency was met by the Pro tectorate’s Acting Resident Commissioner (Mr. J. D. A. Germond), Resident Magis trate (Mr. W. T. Charles), Secretary to Government (Mr. D. C. C. Trench), and Divisional Officer (Mr, P. Hughes). His already brisk programme had to be speeded up, but much ground was satis factorily covered before he left in HMAS
“Culgoa” at 10 p.m. on March 20, on a swift visit to Malaita, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Germond. He left by Catalina for Vila, New Hebrides, on March 22.
Mr. Hayden conferred with local edu cational authorities.