What They Say About The Fijian Footballers

fpHE Fijian Rugby Union foot

-*• bailers are due to arrive in Sydney on July 2 and between that date and the end of July will play

eight matches. Already there has

been much speculation as to what

the visitors will be like; travelling

New Zealanders, only remotely con

nected with sport, are questioned by

sporting commentators as to what

might be expected, and stories, tall

and otherwise, are finding their way

into newspapers.

Sydney Sun reports that the Fiji team might include a 6 ft 7 in. forward, Semlsi Baleca, aged 24 and weighing 15 st. They speculate sadly that local stars will have difficulty In getting the ball in Uneouts from such a giant. * ♦ * Sydney Mirror says that Sir Edward Hallstrom (he was knighted in the recent Birthday Honours) will have the Fijians as his guests for a day at Taronga Zoo.

They report that when in NZ last year the Fijians were photographed at Auck land zoo holding lion-cubs. Sir Edward, it is said, will try to go one better and have them taken with baby elephants. (We hope the Fijians will Uke this). ♦ * * A Brisbane paper reports that they will wear lap-laps (sulus, to you in Fiji) when they play and that they had never worn boots until they visited NZ last year. It is also stated that they are

going to stay at the Canberra Temperance Hotel and be looked after by the Methodists while in Queensland’s capital. * * * The Sydney Polynesian Society is planning a kava ceremony as soon as the Fijians arrive but local Rugby Union officials have been rather worried as to the provision of the more usual form of entertainment for footballers. The Fijians are billed as strict non-drinkers—and this is unusual in football circles. * * ■* The size of the visitors’ feet has re ceived considerable notice. One Sydney Rugby Union enthusiast, who is also a boot manufacturer, has donated 26 pairs of boots —all in sizes 10, 11 and 12. * * * Mr. Ken Sands, formerly a well-known resident of Suva and now of NSW will accompany the Fijians throughout their tour as representative of the Australian Rugby Union. The eight matches to be played are; July s—v. winner North and South at North Sydney; July 7, v.

City at Manly; July 12, v. NSW at Sydney Cricket Ground; July 16, v. New England at Armidale; July 19, v. Queensland at Brisbane; July 23, v. Combined Services at North Sydney; July 26, v. Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground; July 28, v.

Wellington District at Dubbo.

This is a pretty extensive programme to be undertaken in 24 days and will involve the visitors in a considerable amount of travelling.

and entourage are now only a me mory, but we will be very interested in future developments upon his re turn to Sydney.

“And we will always remember the pooch.”

That Infernal “J”

Captain Carl Gurney, of MV Katika, passes on the latest funny story from Port Moresby.

Iliere is a Scandinavian on one of the smaller vessels of this fleet who has a bitter grouch.

“For years,” he says, “I have learned to say jam, and not yam.

Now, when I can say jam, they tell me it’s marmalade!” (We’ve heard it before, somewhere —but let Moresby have it.)

No Discourtesy to Feldt

That admirable organisation, the Australian-American Association of Brisbane, is upset because the para graph on page 16 of June issue sug gests there was discourtesy to Eric Feldt, former Commander of Coast Watchers, at the memorial ceremony in Brisbane on May 3.

General Eichelberger praised Aus tralian servicemen, and especially the Coast Watchers; while Eric Feldt was not among the VlP’s on the platform, but was inconspicuous in mufti in the crowd.

It is explained that the ceremony was not concerned with Australian valour, but was to commemorate what America did in protecting Aus tralia from the Japanese. Mr. Feldt quite understood that, and attended as a member of the AAA, and could not have thought that he had been in any way slighted.

Secretary F. C. L. Derrick invites our critic to join his Association, main purpose of which is to cultivate happy relations between USA and Australia.

Good idea!

It Then Was “Whirl-Around”

Old-timer SHC, writing from Brisbane, asks us if we remember when BP’s ships from New Guinea were turned around so quickly in Sydney that the crews were always griping about the little time they had with their families. Nowadays, the ships are kept so long in port by waterside laziness and associated strikes that a crew member has time, if he wishes, to put through a com plicated divorce!

SHC says that mail orders from the Islands to Farmers and David Jones, in Sydney, in the old days, often missed the quickly-turned ship, and so he was forced to transfer his

custom from Sydney to Brisbane stores, so as to be sure of getting the parcels by return.

Tribute to D. Services

“I am glad you published those further details about the prosecution of Fred Archer’s bossboy,” writes an old New Guinea planter.

“Our District Services generally are trying to do an impartial job un der conditions which often create great difficulties for them . . . too much office work, among other things. The particular officer in volved in that case is one official who tried to make an honest approach to a situation that was surrounded by difficulties.”

No Mystery

“Where did you get that silly story about the ‘Tereora Mystery’ in March PIM?” writes a subscriber in French Oceania. “Here are the facts.

“It was just after the war, and copra had accumulated on Raiatea, so the Tereora, just off the slip in Papeete, was sent across—an easy trip of 125 miles. No one thought of putting some ballast aboard. It was OK with captain, owner and port authority, and she left about 5 pm with 15 or 20 passengers, and crew.

“But at Raiatea the barometer had fallen steadily for two days, and that evening it showed an alarming read ing; and about 1 or 2 am, when the Tereora would be halfway across — with all hands probably asleep—the cyclone struck. It would have taken a good captain and a great amount of native luck to have brought any ship safely through that storm.

“There was no mystery about what happened. Later, there were cruel rumours of the vessel appearing in the Lower Cooks, and in the Caro lines—but it was all moonshine and imagination.”

That Peripatetic Bar!

Friend L. A. Lawlor, of Suva, denies emphatically that he is seeking a home for the salvaged bar of the Chandos Hotel, once a London re fuge for servicemen from Down under, It was reported here in April that the bar had been shipped to Mr.

Lawlor, and that he had intended to install it in Suva’s Club Hotel, before it was struck by the recent hurricane.

LAL says this is all wrong; and of course we accept his word.

Pity, though, to spoil a good story!

That Record Fish, Again

From the Secretary of the Bay of] Islands Swordfish and Mako Shark: Club, New Zealand, comes an ex planation of “Who’s the Champion”' (P I M, April, p. 15, and May, p. 16,) i It seems that it’s all in the line used..

Mrs. Kathleen Hassall, formerly of 3 Fiji, holds the Women’s World Record! for a black marlin caught on 24thread line; whereas Mrs Carolines Guild, formerly of Tahiti, held the record for 39-thread line —but the latter record, established in 1932* was broken by Mrs. Eileen Brownsom of Auckland who, in 1950, landed am 846-pounder on 39-thread line.

Secretary Armstrong says that) game-fishing line has a breaking straim of 3 lbs per thread when wet.

Mr. & Mrs Hassal incidentally* operate the Otehei Fishing Lodge, near Russell, NZ and are hosts toe many internationally famous big game fishers.

Mr. Armstrong reports that the Club tagged and released six marlin during the past season, and now awaits, from lapan, America or the Pacific Islands, a report on any ofi these big fish as they head away from New Zealand on their annual mi gration to their at present unknown winter grounds. So, gentlemen, please rush that tag back to Box 55, Russell, NZ.

Malaya’s Indians’ Hurry

A FORMER resident of Fiji sends a copy of the Straits Times of!

March 12, and indicates certain articles, and says “Comment is need less.”

The Government of Malaya as part of its drive to rid the of Red terrorists, recently introduced; a National Service Bill. It places upon every citizen the duty to enlist; and, if necessary, fight against the Reds.

The newspaper reports the scenes; around the shipping offices as large crowds of young Indians soughtj passages to India. “Nearly 3,000 Indians will be leaving Malays within the next eight days for India, 5 ' says the newspaper.

Some Indian leaders said they re t sented the reports that the Indiansi of Malaya were running away from military service; but the president ol< the Indian Chamber of Commerce; said there was no doubt that thei less-educated Indians were anxious to; leave the country. For this he blameo; the Government for not giving; sufficient publicity to the reason ano; purpose of the National Service Bill!