Events In French Oceania

Prom Our Own Correspondent

New Governor Arrives

Papeete, Dec. 8.

The Papeete waterfront was thronged on the morning of December 7, when the new Governor, M. Petitbon, arrived on the motorship Thor I. He was given a warm welcome. Madame Petitbon and their two children will arrive soon. Although he is only 35, M. Petitbon has a reputation, gained in Africa, as a strict disciplinarian.

Old hands say, however, that if he is to use any sort of authority outside of his own, he will find that he will be recalled, like most of his predecessors. “Go easy in Tahiti if you want to win,” is a time worn axiom here.

Two New Ships For Pacific

The headquarters of Messageries Mari times, in Paris, have announced that the keels of two new vessels, each of 10,500 tons have been laid at Brest and Dunkirk, respectively. The new ships will be named the Tahitien and the Caledonien. Each will have accommodation for 100 first class, 100 second-class and 200 steerage passengers. When completed, they will be put on the run Marseilles—Guade loupe—Martinique— Panama Tahiti New Hebrides—Noumea—Sydney, and will return the same way.

Tahiti’S New Aero Club

The Tahiti Aero Club was inaugurated in Papeete on November 5, when the Club’s two planes were christened—a Grumman being named Manurewa by Madame Yves Martin, and the smaller Aeronca plane Vini, by Madame Andrea de Balmann. A large and interested crowd packed the Esplanade, facing the Naval Station; and the occasion was marked, that evening by a grand ball, held on the recently completed Bir Hackeim quay.

As Tahiti is still without regular air

communication with the outside world, these planes may prove of great value.

For example, the Grumman flew recently to Aitutaki, in the Cook Islands, and brought back to Tahiti a lot of air mail that had accumulated there.

Survey Ship For Tahiti In 1951

Word has been received that the Danish survey ship Galathea will call at Papeete in 1951 on her world cruise. She is in command of Captain Dr. Anton Bruun who, in 1929, commanded the Danish sur vey ship Dana. This will be the second survey ship to call at Papeete recently— the Swedish four-masted schooner Albatross was here in 1946.

Assembly In Session

On November 13, the last session of the Representative Assembly was opened by the Acting Governor, M. Louis Girault.

He was accompanied by the Consuls of Great Britain, Norway, Belgium and China, and by Naval and military officials, and City Councillors (headed by the Mayor, M. Poroi).

M. Girault thanked the Assembly repre sentatives for the way they had handled the affairs of the year; but, from right to left, he spoke very critically of the fonctionnaires.

Senator Lassalle-Sere In Tahiti

When MS Orohena returned from Suva on November 18, it brought Senator Lassalle-Sere, Dr. Massal (head of the Medical Department of the South Pacific Research Council), M. d’Astier De La Vigerie (of the Service d’lnformations), M. Rene Pailloux (Papeete merchant), and M. Sachet (a cyclist, of Tahiti, who went to Noumea to race). From Apia, she brought Dr. Guillemin, Mr. H. Love (radi ologist) and Miss Barf our (bacteriologist), of the South Pacific Commission staff.

Death Of Edmond Walker

Mr. Edmond Walker, a prominent mem ber of Papeete’s British community and son of an English pioneer family, died on November 15, after a long illness. He is a brother of Mr. Isaac Walker, who runs a shipbuilding yard at Fareute, and was at one time British Vice-Consul ht Papeete. The late Mr. Walker was a member of a family of 10 children and is survived by three sisters and two brothers. (Continued Next Page.)

Weddings

On December 7, Lieut, de Vaisseau, M.

Francois Vallaux, was married to Miss Iris Carlson, daughter of the well-known port pilot, M. Louis Carlson, of Papeete.

After the ceremonies at the Catholic Cathedral, a cocktail party was held at Les Tropiques. Among numerous guests were the Acting Governor and officials of the Navy, Army and Administration.

On September 30, M. Jules Rey, of Papeete, gave away his daughter Norine, to be married to Mr, Homer Morgan, an American, and son of Dr. Homer K.

Morgan. The wedding was celebrated at ™ any § u^ s and the reception at the home of Mr. Rey.

New British Consul

117 E have been advised officially that a f f new British Consul has been appointed to take the place of Mr.

Charles Henderson, who resigned a few months ago owing to ill-health, and went to New Zealand. The new Consul is to leave England for Tahiti on December 23. Mr. Walter Asmus, Vice-Consul, is in charge of this office at present.