Imperial Institute
p. 86 · Read in the full issue
New Colony Exhibits At
THE four galleries of the Imperial In stitute in London, which contain ex hibits from all countries within the Colonial Empire, have been completely re organised and refurbished for the opening of the Festival of Britain in May.
The Fiji Court has been completely re novated and Mr. G. K. Roth of the Fiji Administration and Mrs. Roth, have given much valuable time in planning and ob taining exhibits for the new displays. Un der the guidance of Mrs. Roth, the Fijian house has been cleaned and renovated and furnished with scale models including the figures of a Fijian family, seated at a
meal. A large additional showcase has been devoted to agricultural products of Fiji and a small wall case holds a special display of historic documents and other small exhibits. The Fiji Public Relations office has supplied recent photographs of scenery and life in Fiji.
In comparison with the scale on which things are being done to present Fiji to the thousands of visitors who are expected to visit the Institute in the coming Euro pean summer, the Institute annual report states that “a small collection of weapons, formed by the late Mr. W. H. Ray, in New Guinea, has been received for display in the Court.” Surely Papua-New Guinea could have done better than that.
Madame Maillot, a 94-year-old widow, was a victim of the recent cyclone floods in New Caledonia, almost the day after her relatives had crowded round to cele brate her birthday. The Tontouta River at her door rose so rapidly that the waters invaded her dwelling and carried her off on a mattress. She caught hold of a gaiac bush while her son and another re lative, Madame de Casabianca. in almost as great difficulties as herself, attempted in vain to save her. Her body was after wards recovered.
Captain Georges Cabanier, who was one of the members of d’Argenlieu’s much-hated wartime staff in New Cale donia, has been promoted Rear-Admiral.
He was one of the French officers whom the Caledonian crowd “arrested” at Noumea radio station during the distur bances aroused by d’Argenlieu’s arrest of several of Noumea’s leading citizens, whom he sent as hostages to Walpole Island. Cabanier was then a submarine officer with a good war record.