Christmas Festivities at Sohano Notes

Sohano Notes From Buka Passage

From Our Own Correspondent

Sohano, Jan. 2.

fT\HE Acting-District Officer (Mr. R. -i. Cole), and his staff, arranged a suc cessful sports meeting and sing-sing for natives on Boxing Day. Foot races, canoe races, climbing the greasy pole, etc., occupied portion of the time and at night dancing took place. This lasted until daylight the following morning. The Aitape and Sepik natives, who are inden tured at adjacent plantations, stole the show as far as the dancing was concerned.

They were got up with head-dresses, body decorations, etc., and well armed with kundus which throbbed all through the night. They put the local natives to shame with their energy and enthusiasm.

Many local Europeans witnessed the per formances. * Over the Christmas and New Year season a number of plantation folk visited Sohano and were hospitably received and well treated by the residents. The idea of getting together for social purposes and the interchange of ideas is one that should be fostered. Visitors went back to their homes feeling that something had been achieved and with pleasant memories of the occasion, * The Sohano Club, which was a pre-war institution, was re-formed about a year ago, but has had a somewhat chequered career. With the appointing of Mr.

Frank Boisen as president and Mr. N.

Chester as secretary, progress has been made however. A reasonable amount of war-damage money has been granted, a building has been erected on the old site

and some furniture has been installed— also a library is being formed. The idea is for a sports and social centre, and the facilities for visitors to the island to stay without having to depend on the hospi tality of the residents, which is always generous. The country members of the Club are anxious to see the whole affair functioning. * The European Hospital at Sohano has now been completed and is a fine build ing, with a well-equipped operating theatre, furnishings, etc. The kitchen, bathrooms and lavatories are good and an abundant water supply is assured by the tanks and large catchment area. Un fortunately, there are no Sisters to attend to patients, nor are there any quarters provided for Sisters, though it is said they may use a native material house which could easily be in better repair than it is. This matter of Sisters and accommo dation is one that requires immediate attention.

Several new buildings for the native hospital at Sohano have been erected — offices and wards —and consequent im provement in appearance is most marked.

They have an X-Ray outfit which is a great asset.

Buildings, as residences for the Medical Officer and Senior Medical Assistant, are now in course of erection at Sohano, and are a much-needed addition to the scanty accommodation provided on the island for the staff. There is still a decided ’’slum area,” comprised of native-built houses in a poor state of repair, but at last these are now being put into order pending the building of permanent houses. The sight of tarpaulins stretched across leaky roofs, the insecure flooring and so forth, is not a pleasing feature for occupants or im pressive to visitors. * THE local Administration trawler, Corn works, has been in Rabaul for some weeks for overhaul and engine re pairs, and she is likely to be another three weeks. The ailments of this lady are many but it is hoped that, after “her big operation,” she will be restored to health and return to duty. ♦ District residents are indignant at the apparently careless way that our mail matter is handled and the delay and in convenience occasioned thereby. Despite a fortnightly air service, and ships from Rabaul to Sohano, letters not infrequently take as much as a month to cover the distance. During December first-class mail matter and surface mail (newspapers, etc.) were shipped by Duali, which went to Torokina and the south of Bougainville direct, so missing Sohano, and resulting in the Christmas parcels, etc., spending the festive season in the ship’s hold. It is thought that an air mail from Australia was also on board.

Such rank and continued carelessness is inexcusable and should cease. Another act of discourtesy is the all-too-frequent habit of Rabaul-bound ships, sailing right past District Headquarters at Sohano without calling to pick up mail or in tending passengers. This is, or should be considered, a serious matter. The latest offender was the Directorate of Shipping’s Katika on December 29.

Mr. C. D. Barford, who is to succeed Mr.

B. C. Carpenter as manager of the Suva Branch of the Bank of New Zealand, ex pects to leave London for Fiji early in January. Mr. Barford was formerly manager of the Morrinsville branch of the bank and at present is on the staff of the London Branch. Mr. Carpenter, who has been in Fiji since 1947, has been transferred to New Zealand.