Rabaul Roundabout

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Jan. 5.

THE report over the A.B.C. from Moresby that after the installation of electric light meters consumption dropped considerably, and enabled the Department to do away with all Power rationing, reminds us that firms here, who have installed meters, purchased locally, reported that they are giving very satisfactory service.

Installation of meters has made an appreciable cut in these neople’s accounts, which in Rabaul are still assessed on the flat rate system.

It is believed that the Administration now has stocks of single-phase meters on hand, and eventually every dwelling will be equipped with one. .. .. ..

AN important meeting of Seventh Day Adventist Missionaries takes place at Kambubu, near Put Put, New Britain, from the seventh to the 17th of January.

All this week delegates are arriving by boat and plane. The 65 ft. Batuna came from the British Solomon Islands with a party of seven European delegates and 10 native delegates aboard; Chief SPA Education Officer, Pastor Peterson, arrived

by plane from Sydney; several delegates are on their way by small ship from the Sepik area, and a party of delegates is expected to arrive by plane from America, This conference follows upon the world conferences of SDA Missionaries held recently -in Australia and America. The purpose is to review the work of the SDA in the Coral Sea area, which comprises all of Papua-New Guinea. New Britain, and the BSI, for the past four years, and also to formulate a plan of work for the next four years, :: :: :: a MOST successful Christmas Party was held this year for the children at the New Gu inea Club. So great had been the bounty of the residents, that each child was enabled to receive a prize for his fancy dress costume. Over 130 children attended the party, and with squeaks of delight surrounded the tree, which groaned under its weight of good things.

There was only one thing of which they appeared disapproving. Father Christmas managed to please even the most cynical, but the unfortunate clown drew nothing but shrill cries of terror. , :: . ” rpHE Directorate of Shipping has advised X that the agency for 85 ft. vessels

Mainero and Maimuna has now passed from Burns Philp to Messrs. Colyer Watson, and that the agency for the 300

During the visit of HMAS Culgoa to Rabaul, a soccer match was played between Rabaul and Culgoa teams—Rabaul winning 2 goals to nil. The two teams are shown here. —Photo by C. H. Meen.

ton vessel MV Kelaua, upon completion of repairs to that vessel, will pass from New Guinea Company to Colyer Watson.

WHEN Lieut.-Col. MacLeod addressed a meeting of the RSL Club last month, in an endeavour to reform the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, a strange anomaly was disclosed. Of the entire complement of returned servicemen in Rabaul, there would not be sufficient non-commissioned men to form the Rifles, In order to join the Company, all com missioned officers would first have to re sign their commissions. The president of the RSL and Lieut.-Col. MacLeod are still trying to work out a solution.

SIR ANGUS GILLAN visited Rabaul during December, and gave a public address at the RSL Clubrooms. He spoke of the post-war development of closer cultural relationship between the 'United Kingdom and other countries, and also explained fully the function of the British Council.

A REGRETTABLE incident took place outside the Palms Theatre, during the December visit of the overseas vessel Suva to Rabaul.

Sub-Inspector Palmer, called to the theatre to quell a group of coloured sea men who were creating a disturbance out side, was attacked by them. They struck him over the head with a bottle, threw him to the ground and kicked him.

Theatre employees rang the police for reinforcements, taut several members of Works and Housing Department emerged from the theatre, and rushed to the policeman’s assistance.

They soon overpowered the coloured sea men, and led them away to the Bastille.

THE New Britain Club would like to pro test against criticism which has been unjustly levelled at them over their “Bathing Beauty” Ball, held in November.

This was a most decorously-conducted affair, and, during the parade of the beauties there were no natives within coo ee of the Clul>—environs of which were

heavily policed for possible lurking savages.

MR. FRANK RIORDAN has returned to Rabaul after Southern leave, to take up his post once more as Manager of the Commonwealth Bank.

During his absence Mr. Charles Andrew carried on in his place.

Before leaving the territory, Mr. Andrew was farewelled by fellow members of the New Guinea Club, who made him a pre sentation of a pewter mug, in token of their regard, and appreciation of the good work he had done on the Club’s behalf during his stay.

COMMANDER E.” CREER has left Rabaul on the Bulolo for Sydney, and thence home to England for an in definite period. He was one of the best liked skippers in these waters. We see him go with regret.

The Commander was a notoriously poor sleeper. One night, to his horror, he ob served one of his * boats’ crew coming aboard the Stradbroke, his last command, carrying a fiendish-looking toy trumpet.

The Commander inquired how much it had cost the savage.

“One shilling,” was the reply.

“Well, my lad,” said Bertie, “here’s ten shillings for it.”

The gratified native pocketed the money, but still cannot understand why the “Mastah” promptly threw his pur chase over the side of the vessel.

AN interesting engagement has been announced in Rabaul, and a mar riage will take place early in 1951 between Pamela., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Palfreyman, late of Rabaul, and Mr. Alan Willis, second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Willis, of Randwick, Syd ney. Pam is well known to us all as “the Voice” of RTC, A SECOND parade of feminine beauty was held at the Ascot Hotel during late December. This time, however, all the femmes were fully clothed, thus defeating any possible critics.

The show was organised by Mrs. Margot Briggs, of the Chic Salon. Sports frocks morning, afternoon, and evening wear were displayed by the pretty mannequins to a lounge packed to capacity.

Background music was provided by the tinkling of ice in long, cool drinks, anc excited yelps from female members of the audience.

T INFISH, father of Salmon and Sardine venerable black retainer and cook boy for the last 20 years in the House of Creswell at the Bainings, is the only local native I have seen wearing a. full set of false -teeth.

The other day Tinfish flashed them at me outside the Hails Meat, in a beaming youthful smile. He assured me at once that they cost £6O.

As he walked into the butchers- to buy steak on which to test his new teeth, thought: “Ah, what a thoughtful and fitting reward to the faithful servitor who has worn out his own fangs in an honesl endeavour to eat his kind Masted out of house and home.”

IF you said that C. H. Meen, clever Chinese photographer and ice-cream dispenser at the Picture Theatre in Rabaul, was the most popular Chinese here with both his own race, and Euro peans, I don’t think you would meet with any opposition at all.

Now the indefatigable Meen, besides his ice-cream and soft drink stall at the Theatre, has installed a very fine Soft Drink Bar in his own store in Chinatown with tall bar stools, tall cool drinks, and a delicious blend of ice-cream.