952: Summary of Events

In The Pacific

January

Sir Ronald Garvey appointed Governor f Fiji in succession to Sir Brian Free on.

Mr. R. C. S. Stanley appointed High nnmissioner for Western Pacific. 10th anniversary of fall of Rabaul to ipanese, January 33, 1943.

Fiji Battalion denarts for service against rrorists in Malaya.

TEAL commences Solent fiying-boat rvice Auckland-Tahiti via Suva, itntaki.

Hurricane lashes Viti Levu; over 30 laths and a conservative £1 million damage.

MOF price for copra rises full 10 per nt. (Stg.s9/15/-); MOF price for sugar ses to £3B/10/- per ton.

February

Hurricane damage to Fiji plantations uses withdrawal of USS Co.’s Matua >m Island service.

Price of rice in NG rises to £lOO per a.

Australian Government and BGD, Ltd., rm company for exploitation of Bulolo tie forests.

Mr. R. G. Powles reappointed High immissioner. Western Samoa, for second rm of three years.

March

Perm of New Caledonian General uncil expires and due to local and tnch metropolican political dissension, prospect of electing new one.

April

frans-Oceanic Airways ceases flying-boat rvice Sydney-Port Moresby.

London price for free market copra wn to £6oStg.

Cyclone hits Louisiades, Papua; eight lives killed.

Fiji announces trade deficit for year £3 million.

May

ipecial committee begins taking evidence • and against Australia-PNG Customs ion.

Minister for Territories announces re ement end of June of Col. J. K. irray, Administrator P-NG.

IPC’s No. 3 bore at Hohoro, Papua, andoned after costing £500,000, but irch for oil goes on.

SPC Fisheries Conference held in umea.

June

LB-footer yacht sailing championships Id Suva.

Announcement that Rabaul will be re fit on Simpson Harbour and not re wed to Rapopo. two undersea volcanoes erupt off New ®rgia, BSI.

Fijians in action in Malaya and kill it terrorists.

FEAL completes 11 accident-free years.

July

Fijian R.U. football team arrives in flney for tour of NSW and Qld.

Bros, begin making O’Keefe n in Fiji and “Return to Paradise” in sstern Samoa.

Hr. R. C. S. Stanley sworn in as HCWP.

M) Eastern Samoans leave to live rmanently in Hawaii.

Mr, J. c. Elliott appointed Governor E. Samoa in succession to Mr. Phelps ielps.

August

PS, Australian and NZ representatives set in Honolulu to make Pacific Security territories Minister makes limited

statement on P-NG land policy.

Mr. H. S. Richards, Administrator Nauru since 1949, resigns.

Fijian footballers complete Aust. tour —won eight matches, lost one, drew one.

September

The BSI Protectorate Government’s power to levy income taxation is challenged by certain residents of BSI.

It is expected that the case will be heard in Suva, Fiji.

W. R. Carpenter & Co.’s new copra crushing mill in operation in Rabaul.

Some residents challenge right of BSIP Government to levy income tax.

USS Co. announce that Aorangi, sole surviving Pacific passenger ship, will be withdrawn from Sydney-Nth. America service mid-1953 and not be replaced.

Island trading ship Awahou disappears on voyage between Sydney and Lord Howe Is.

October

Sir Ronald Garvey arrives Suva and sworn in as Governor of Fiji.

Australian manufacturers stop buying Papuan rubber.

NZ National Airways Corp. ceases operating Pacific routes which now served by TEAL.

TEAL includes Western Samoa in Auckland-Tahiti service.

After drought since January hurricane, Fiji has driest October on record.

Papuan rubber planters’ representatives meet representatives of Australian Govern

ment and rubber manufacturers in attempt to solve marketing: difficulties.

sDutch announce they will not give up lutch New Guinea.

November

[improvement in free market price of »pra.

APC bore at Omati, Papua, down two liles.

First beer from Moresby’s South Pacific trewery on sale locally.

New Shipping company (New Guinea ■stralia Line) enters wvice with two ships.

James Arthur Ewing replaces J. C. lliott as Governor E, Samoa.

First stage of Suva’s Anglican Cathedral impleted.

Education Conference between Adminis ration and Missions in Port Moresby.

Australian Government to buy 400 tons f Papuan rubber.

Australian Government decides against ftstralian-PNG Customs union.

Queen Salote of Tonga invited to oronation in 1953.

December

PNG planters begin legal proceedings »r distribution of Copra Stabilisation nnd.

Brigadier C. H. B. Norman to succeed Ir. Alex Wilson as Administrator of brfolk Is. on December 31.

Qantas E, Airways completes longest tttle-airlift—bringing 22 calves from ftkistan to Port Moresby.

Announced that MOF copra price in (53 will be 10 per cent, less than in (52. MOF price for sugar will rise by 18/16/8 Stg. per ton.

WPHC headquarters moved from Suva » Honiara, BSI.

Mr. R. H. (“Bobby”) Gibbes, well

no wn owner-operator of Sepik Air

ways, New Guinea, returned from a

sit to the United Kingdom in De smber.