Bsi Awaits Us New Head
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
Future of New Hebrides Connection Still Unknown
Honiara, Mar. 31.
INDICATIONS at the moment are that Honiara will remain the “capital city” of BSI. There is much commercial and building activity, a picture theatre is going up, Chinatown is being rebuilt, rice and copra experts are here to advise us.
Tulagi—2o miles away across the water—will presumably be our cargo port. Administration officials and Government Trade Scheme staff (about eight altogether) comprise the European population there. The Kurimarau transhipped the cargo from the last Malaita from Tulagi to Honiara; and the double handling caused much greater damage and loss.
There still are no wharves at Honiara; but Trade Scheme are re building their wharf for small craft.
Qantas start a weekly, instead of fortnightly, service in April.
The new High Commissioner and staff are believed to be coming to Honiara—but up to the end of March there was no sign of them.
No one knows what is going to happen: but many changes are ex pected.
The new HC, from Honiara, will govern the Solomons and Gilbert & Ellice Colony, but no one knows what is going to be done regarding New Hebrides.
The retiring Resident Commis sioner, Mr. Gregory Smith, has departed for England and the follow ing officials have also departed—either permanently or on leave:— Police Superintendent E. I.
Colchester-Wemyss, with wife and child.
Chief Radio Officer J. D. Davies.
Customs Officer and Acting Post master W. H. Ramsay.
Secretariat Stenographer, Miss Daphne Thompson.
Trade Scheme Manager, R. J.
Lotze.
Others now absent on leave:
Postmaster, the Auditor, the Senio Agricultural Officer, two Distric Officers, Treasury Cashier, and th Welfare Officer.
The Administration is somewha attenuated, and the list of “Actings’ include some round pegs in squan holes.
Before his departure, Mr. Gregor} Smith was warmly entertained b} various interests and a notabl( dinner was that at the Hotel Wood ford on March 29, when Mr. K. H Dalrymple Hay was host and th< institutions represented included th< Trade Scheme, Commonwealth Bank Tenaru Timbers, Ltd., K. H. D. Ha} Pty., Ltd., Ayrton Metal Co., Soutl Pacific Traders, Ltd.