Bsi Celebrates King’S

Birthday

With Parades, Fruit Cup

From Our Own Correspondent

Honiara, June 15

THE King’s birthday was celebrated in Honiara, British Solomon Islands, on June 8. Early morning parade was held at the Police Depot and Training School, at which the Resident Commis sioner (Mr. H. G. Gregory-Smith) took the salute and inspected a smartly turned out detachment of the Solomon Islands Constabulary. Most of the Euro pean residents of Honiara and some hundreds of natives were present. Senior Government officials wore their white dress uniform with white helmets and dress swords. Europeans, Solomon Islanders and Chinese later joined in drinking His Majesty’s health in fruit cup in the Police Pavilion. This building, a converted Quonset hut, has been lined with “leaf” panels, and the supporting wooden pillars have been covered with black and white patterns in woven cane, making a most effective interior.

The small Chinese community at Matanikau, about a mile from Honiara, sent a cable to the King which read “The Chinese community of the British Solomon Islands kowtow to His Majesty the King and wish him all good luck and a long and healthy life.”

Parades were also held at Auki, on Malaita, and Gizo, in the Western Solomons,