Pathos In 1936

This pathetic reminder of hardships in the Western Division of Papua, a long time ago, was discovered lately in an old file. The doggerel is signed "Chldested”, and it apparently is the joint camposition of S. H. Chance, Noel Hides and Bensted, three men who considered themselves to be more or less forgotten men in Kikori.

The date was November 23, 1936.

Away out here where there’s no beer, The joys of life are few, We sit and dream of cakes and cream, And things we’d like to do.

The boat is due; with eyes askew, We sit and gaze and gaze.

A siren’s wail! At last the mail!

The first for thirty days!

With eager hands we tear the bands.

And scan the sheets for news Of world affairs, of sons and heirs; And then our Stores abuse!

The invoice sheet is not complete; Our RUM they have forgot; A flask of gin, Its sides bashed in— This leaves us not at tot.

Our bills are due, our pounds are few; Of service we have none, So wail we must, while boats go bust, Out on the Western run.

Our sorry plight, of which we write, We hope will meet your eyes, And in due course, you’ll feel remorse, And with us sympathise.

The clamour’s o’re; the boat’s no more.

We’ve spuds for twenty feeds; And as for spots, we’ve always lots Of lime-juice for our needs.

We say Adieu! and trust that you Towards the rising sun, When drinking port, will give due thought, To Western chaps with none!

“Chidested”.

Kikori, 23/11/36.

The Unforgiving Minute

ANEW GUINEA Administration Officer recently received a memo from the Public Service Commis sioner to the effect that sick leave had been approved for 17 days five hours 27 minutes!

Mr. Hamilton Huntley, who for the past 16 years, has been on the staff of the Fiji Broadcasting Com pany. has been appointed Assistant Manager of the Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Station, 380 Bendigo. He has been closely associated with broadcasting in Fiji since Station ZJV was first opened.