Encouraging Results

From BSI Cocoa Experiments

From Our Own Correspondent MR. R. C. SYMES of Honiara has established the first cocoa plan tation in BSIP at his plantation at Holokama, Ysabel, in the Western Solomons.

The cocoa venture was begun early this year, when Mr. Symes ob tained 1,500 seeds from the Keravat Agricultural Station, near Rabaul.

These were to be flown from Rabaul to Honiara and picked up im mediately at Honiara by Mr. Symes’

M. V. Ambon for onward movement to Ysabel. Unfortunately the plane was delayed for two days owing to bad weather, and the Ambon was delayed a further three days owing to the February storm. The seed arived at Holokama within two days of the 14-day limit within which prepared seed must be planted.

Seeds had been individually and :arefully packed in sawdust, but ow ng to the delay had germinated to iiich an extent that Mr. Symes de cided as an experiment to plant hem straight into their permanent )ositions. This was very successful. )ut of 1,500 seeds planted, only 250 ailed. The trees are now 2 ft. 6 n. high. No shade crop was neces ary, as the seeds were planted mong coconuts.

After this first experimental plant tig, Mr. Symes decided to get a large hipment of 15,000 seeds, but brough a series of misfortunes, bese seeds were not individually acked in sawdust, and by the time bey arrived at Ysabel they had fer lented and would not germinate.

However, he is confident that with roper care of the seed before plant ig and reasonable attention to oung plants, cocoa growing in the iritish Solomon Islands will be a iccess. He has already made rrangements to obtain seed to plant Q extensive acreage.

Odd cocoa trees have flourished ere and there in the Proctectorate, □t this is the first cocoa venture on commercial scale in the BSIP.

It is the intention of the National ark’s Association of Queensland to t> beyond its own borders in an en savour to convince the Common ealth authorities of the need for National Parks in Papua and New ' Guinea.

Dehumidifying apparatus in mantle-model size (25 i x 20 x 16 inches) is being built in Holland under American licence. It will maintain a given degree of humidity in a confined space and working

from a 1/3 hp. motor cost little to run. One machine is capable of drawing 6.6 gallons of water from the air in 24 hours and will keep a room of 4,200 cubic feet at a humi dity of 60 per cent.

Gasmata natives (New Britain) have formed a co-operative for marketing copra. Working capital has been subscribed by members at £2 a head. Copra sheds will be erected by volunteer labour and selected natives will be trained as clerks to handle buying and records.

Politicians On

Tour

Some of the Aus tralian MP’s who toured Papua-New Guinea during the winter recess. They are here photo graphed at Nondugl, NG Central High lands. The group includes; Mr. C. W.

Davidson, MP, of Mackay, Queensland, F/O “Jock” McKee,

Mbe, Dfc, Of

Qantas, Senator A.

M. McMullen of Scone. NSW, Mr.

Claud Champion, Asst. Government Secretary, P-NG, who accompanied the Members of Parlia ment, Mr. D. Mc- Leod, MP. of Gunge galgona, Victoria, and Mr. George Pearce, MP, of Rock hampton, Queensland.

The partnership known as Island Amusements (Messrs. A. & W. Parry and M. Wilks) were in Rabaul, NG in August pending return to Aus tralia for the summer season. The Chair-o-horses have proved very popular with all sections of the

community, the natives perhaps getting almost as much pleasure standing around watching as riding.

At Hoop-la they sometimes prove embarrassingly skilful. The Company hopes to make an annual visit to the Territroy.