Food Supplies

Storms Disrupt Islands’

From Our Own Correspondent

Honiara, Mar. 6.

A North-Westerly Storm,

with winds to gale force and heavy seas, hit the BSI Pro tectorate early in March.

Little damage was done in most areas, but the small Polynesian island of Sikaiana, which suffered badly in a similar storm early in 1952, was again battered. Last year’s storm resulted in a serious famine on the island before relief supplies could be landed. This year it is believed that half the bananas and manioc have been destroyed and most of the Islanders’ efforts to restore their gardens have been nullified.

The District Commissioner Eastern Solomons (Mr. R. Davies), weather bound in Betua at Vanikoro, is leaving for Sikaiana as soon as possible with two tons of rice borrowed from the Vanikoro Timber Co.

With the co-operation of the Government of Fiji, five tons of rice, five tons of ration biscuits, taro and coconuts have been pur chased in Suva, and will be loaded in M.V. Kurimarau which is soon due to leave Suva. She will call at Vila, New Hebrides, to em bark the High Commissioner (Mr.

R. C. S. Stanley) and he may call at Sikaiana, en route to Honiara, to land supplies.

It is thought a cyclone centred near Rennell and Bellona may have caused damage in those Islands also.

The Assistant Editor of the Pacific Islands Monthly, Mrs.

Judy Tudor, arrives in Rabaul by Maiaita at the end of March and will visit most centres of Papua-New Guinea during April.