Mariposa May Come

Back to Pacific

THE US Maritime Commission an nounced on October 17, that it would pay the Oceanic Steamship Company 5,653,555 dollars for the conversion of the Mariposa—provided she resumes the Pacific Coast-Australia Service.

This amended the agreement between the Commission and the Company cover ing the Mariposa and Monterey, which the Government took over in December, 1941, for war service.

The US Government was to pay 11,402,852 dollars for their reconversion, but because of rising costs work stopped in July, 1947, when work on the Mariposa was 60 per cent, complete.

Since then the company has cried various means of settling the Monterey- Mariposa Question —but the ships have remained immobilised in dock.

The Matson liners were popular with South Pacific travellers, all of whom will be glad to welcome Mariposa if she does come back to the Sydney-San Francisco service.

Mr. Malcolm English departed from Rabaul, New Guinea, on October 27, with his two sons, aged seven months and three years. Two weeks previously all Rabaul attended the funeral service of his wife, Dorothy, who was killed in a jeep accident. (See October PIM.) Mr.

English is uncertain as to his future plans but is now en route to Melbourne where Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, parents of Mrs.

English will care for the children. He has been ADO at Kokopo since January and was formerly at Talasea. He and Mrs. English were held in high regard in both districts.