Rabaul Roundabout

From Our Own Correspondent

RABAUL, September 5.

MESSRS. L. CORBETT and J. Allan played off for the snooker cham pionship at the New Guinea Club during August. Mr. Corbett was the winner, and the event was celebrated by a large gathering of club members.

THE Rabaul Parents and Citizens’ Asso ciation is concerned at the lack of teaching staff provided for the Rabaul European School. Last year there were three teachers employed. At present the whole of the teaching is carried out by Miss Parle. Dependent upon those on leave, the pupils number from 20 to 30.

However, due to varied number of classes to be conducted, the employment of an other teacher is considered essential. Re presentations to this effect have been made to the District Officer and the OIC, Education, Rabaul.

In respect of a proposed kindergarten, the District Officer (Mr. J. McCarthy) was helpful and stated that the Adminis tration was willing to subsidise such an establishment to the extent of £l5O per annum. The Returned Soldiers’ Club has also offered to assist with finance to run the kindergarten and the matter has been left with their executive, to work out with Mr. McCarthy how to obtain a suitable dwelling.

CELEBRATING their 75th Jubilee, the Methodist Mission held a pageant at the Duke of York Islands during August. It was conducted by the Rev. Mr.

Lewis.

The first landing at the Duke of Yorks, by Dr. George Brown and a party of natives from Fiji and the Solomons, was re-enacted by students of the Mission.

A thanksgiving service was held in the afternoon at the site of the first church ivhere a memorial now stands. This was followed with a pageant given by the students showing the work of the Mission aver the past 75 years. rWO new ships have arrived in the port of Rabaul —the Etivebank to load copra for the British Ministry of Pood and the oil tanker, Cerion, from Singapore, with supplies for the Shell Company.

Lautoka, from Australia, with 1,200 bags af rice, arrived on September 5 to relieve the rice famine in Rabaul. At present, me local natives are living on native foods anly.

A T the Namanula General Hospital, a daughter (Elizabeth) was born to Mr. and Mrs. M. Munro on August 6. On September 3, a son (Nicholas) to Mr. and Mrs. N. Hanson.

MR. HEAD, Public Service Commis sioner of Papua-New Guinea, con vened a meeting of Administration employees during his recent trip to Rabaul. The meeting discussed the re cent reclassifications which have been the subject of much criticism by those affected.

DURING August, Captain Kutt, of the Directorate vessel, Raluana, was brought by Catalina aircraft from aohano suffering from peritonitis and died soon after arriving at Rabaul.

MAJOR-GENERAL Stevens, general manager of the Overseas Tele communications Commission, ac companied by Mr. Moore, the Coastal Radio Superintendent, visited Rabaul from August 14 to 18, during their tour of the OTC stations in New Guinea. The visit was concerned mainly with seeking first-hand information as to how to im prove telecommunications in the Terri tory, and with the problem of housing for the staff. During his visit General Stevens was a guest of the RSL and New Guinea Clubs.

THE past month has been most trying in the township of Rabaul. Complete absence of rain, together with heat and the ever-present dust has caused considerable discomfort. Those residing close to Malaguna Road and to the south of the township, where the roads are un sealed, are the worst affected. Bush and grass fires have been frequent and several outbuildings on various blocks have been destroyed. Major buildings have been saved by the prompt arrival of fire wag gons from the Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation.

AT last Rabaul residents are being charged for light and power. This has been made retrospective to July 1, 1950. While all agree that a charge is indicated, the levying of so much per

light point, etc., leaves much to be desired.

One can anticipate consumers buying their own meters to reduce these costs.

FATHER DALTON, MSC, one of Aus tralia’s foremost orators, conducted a mission at the Roman Catholic Church from August 6 to 13. The church was packed to capacity, at each service.

Sub-inspector dix, who has been stationed at Kokopo for several years, has been transferred to Rabaul. Sub-Inspector F. Towner, from Kavieng has succeeded Sub-Inspector Dix at Kokopo.

The modern photographic Casurina Studio opened at Rabaul during August and offers plenty of enticement to the camera fan.

Climaxing many weeks of competition

tennis, the Rabaul championship results were as follows: Men’s Singles Champion ship, Lieut. R. Sebastien; Ladies’ Singles Championship, Miss Egan; Men’s Doubles Championshio, Messrs. Willis and Mcßae; Men’s Singles Handicap, Mr. F. Mcßae; Ladies’ Singles Handicap, Miss Egan; Men’s Doubles Handicap, Messrs. Cook and Mcßae; Ladies’ Doubles Handicap, Miss Parle and Miss Egan; Mixed Doubles Handicap, Mr. and Mrs. O’Farrell.

TO expedite the reforming of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, the Rabaul RSL sub-branch offered to Northern Command, Brisbane, the use of section of the RSL Club Rooms as a centre of operations and office. Express ing his thanks for the offer, Maj.- Gen. Nimmo, GOC, Northern Command, replied that Lt.-Col. McLeod would be contacting the sub-branch to make de tailed arrangements, and that the offer had eased the problem at Rabaul.

In anticipation of these arrangements being finalised in the near future, the sub-branch welcomes any recruits for the unit in the Rabaul District.

THE first post-war informal dance, ex clusive to members and their lady guests, was held by the New Guinea Club on September 3. The function, under the capable direction of Messrs. L. Corbett and K. Cummings, was successful and is , likely to be a regular feature at the Club.

It has been rumoured that American President Lines are considering diverting one of their liners to the San Francisco- Australasia service. Aorangi (Canadian A/sian Line) is to be withdrawn from the Pacific Service in January, 1951.