Minor Fire in Matua

AN early morning fire in the lines room of the Matua, as she lar at her refitting berth in Auckland) NZ, recently brought six fire engines to the scene. The outbreak was got promptly under control.

Thr fire was attributed to weldinjr work on the previous afternoom Only slight damage was done.

Mr. G. F. C. Dennis, of Honiara' BSI, has succeeded in growing straw* berries. Planted straight into thr ground and not in special boxes, onH the first berries have yet ripened anoi it is too early to tell how the plant! will bear. They are the first strawv berries ever grown in Honiara. Anr other Honiara resident, Mrs. T. ID Manning, has grown a very fine New Zealand Waratah, the first of its kinoi to be grown in Honiara, and probably the first ever grown in the BSIP.