Notes From Tolosea

Prom Our Own Correspondent TALASEA, New Britain, Jan. 4.

Mrs. Marie Skinner, Wife Of Ado

lan Skinner of Talasea, is something unique in hostesses in that she ex pected no visitors at the Station for Christmas and yet was able to provide Christmas dinner for 10 adults and four children without batting an eyelid or losing her usual piquant charm. Al though the boat which was expected to arrive with Christmas stores did not ar rive, she managed to have gifts for all the visitors and a merry time was had by all.

Mrs. Phil Page, patrol-officer’s wife gave a party for the entire station at which all guests received a present from the Christmas tree.

One or two outlying plantations did what they could to help Talasea’s gaiety along—vegetables, fruit and eggs from San Remo; oysters, pig, and fish from Numundo.

To the desolation of all, and of his wife in particular, ADO Skinner was re quested to make a patrol of Witu over the Christmas period—the area had not been patrolled since 1944. One wonders what ghastly fate would have overtaken Witu had the patrol been delayed into early 1950.

C CHRISTMAS sing-sings were held at j plantations, villages and mission stations. A huge sing-sing was to have been held at the Government Station, Talasea at New Year and all villages for miles up and down the coast were to participate. Canoes were pulling into the station from every direction and great was the excitement and clamour. However, the rains came to these parts sooner than expected and the sing-sing was not the success planned.

MR. ROD MARSLAND of Nagenda and Mr. Bill Wills of Volupai took off in their boat on a recruiting trip before the New Year celebrations but be fore they left they gave a party at Nagenda to which the whole district was invited.

Reports from Nagenda and Walindi plantations indicate that cocoa is doing well there, the main problems being lack of labour and a small red parrot which causes minor devastation among the young pods.

GARUA ISLAND, managed by Mr.

Cameron is doing exceptionally well with coconuts. The Cameron family have gone south for leave. Meanwhile the plantation is being looked after by Mr. and Mrs. L. Searle of Walindi. Mrs.

Searle has only one regret concerning Garua—that is, living on top of a hill she can never know what is going on

down below unless she first walks down and that, of course, means that she has always to walk up again.

THERE are rumours of Cargo-Cult in the Nakanai District although the Catholic Mission says that there is

“nothing to worry about.”

A native by the name of Batari, who was pro-Jap and a considerable annoy ance during the war is believed to be involved. He is the local Luluai sanc tioned by the Administration, notwith standing, THE Phillips-Veirkes on Numundo are over-run with rats both great and small. They (the rats) have eaten

sheets, clothes, towels, table cloths, as well as the more usual fodder, and have even gnawed through the mosquito nets to get at the sleeping Phillips-Veirkes.

Numundo is a Coconut Products plant ation and CP are forwarding bullocks, pigs, goats and horses in the near future.

European Medical Assistant Johnson of Talasea will then rush down to Numundo complete with hypodermic and anti tetanus serum, purely in the interest of

science and to safeguard the lives of the Phillips-Veirkes.