Popular Do And Wife

Leave Kavieng

From a Special Correspondent MR. and Mrs. W. J. Read went south on leave by the November (Malaita, after a long spell in New Ireland, where Mr. Read has been District Officer.

The popular couple will tour New Zealand.

As a Navy Lieutenant during the war our District Officer was one of the most famous of Commander Eric Feldt’s Coast watchers. It was Read and Lieutenant Paul Mason who watched Jap planes fly over their hide-outs in Bougainville and by tele-radio were able to advise the US defenders of Guadalcanal long before they arrived, that “Japs were headed south.”

The US Airforce and Marines had thus ample time to prepare for the raiders and this factor was largely responsible for their being able to hold out in the Solo mons in the stickiest days of the war.

Farewell social and sporting functions were held to celebrate the Reads’ de , parture. They were guests of honour at ’ an informal evening organised by the New Ireland District Sports Association held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. lan F.

G. Downs, Kavieng, on October 22. All Kavieng turned up, and planters travelled for miles by vehicle and jeep to attend the happy gathering. Mrs. Read had been the enthusiastic and energetic honorary secretary of NIDSA since its post-war rejuvenation. A tennis tournament was held over the week-end. The prizes were donated by Mrs. Read, who played a strenuous game herself and very nearly succeeded in winning the prize. Best in dividual player was Mr. D. C. West, and outstanding among the women players was Mrs. J. H. L. McGuigan.

Chinese residents, who outnumber the Europeans at Kavieng, and form an im portant, indispensable and prosperous section of the community, farewelled the Reads with a special Chinese dinner held at the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) Club House on October 23. The hall was decorated for the occasion and everyone juggled with chop sticks and thoroughly enjoyed the lavish repast.