Coronation Activities

Some South Pacific Coronation Activities

Rarotonga’s Gift

mo represent Cook Islands at the 1 Coronation, Makea Nui Ariki ((native ruler of Rarotonga) and her husband, Tau Mataiapo, have gone to England by air, via Fiji and USA. Before they left, Mr.

G. Nevill (Resident Commissioner for Cook Islands) handed to the Makea the Cook Islands’ official Coronation gift to Queen Elizabeth.

This consists of two large and ex quisite mother-o’-pearl shells,

mounted on a base of tamanu, a rare and beautiful native wood.

One shell is carved with a likeness of Captain Cook; the other with a representation of one of the great double-canoes in which the Polynesians first voyaged south ward to New Zealand.

The shells were shaped and polished by Mr. Ronald Powell, an Englishman long resident in Raro tonga, who specialises in this deli cate and intricate art. The actual engraving was carried out by Mr.

Powell’s two highly-skilled Poly nesian craftsmen.

BSPs Stamp Issue

CORONATION Stamps, value 2d, will be released for sale at Honiara, Gizo, and Auki, British Solomon Islands, on June 2, and will remain on sale for six months. To allow posting of first day covers, those post offices will be open briefly on Coronation Day.

Qantas Provides “Free

Drinks ,,

AMONG other special measures to mark the occasion, Qantas have arranged that passengers who fly on the Company’s routes on Coronation Day will not be charged for drinks. Champagne, liqueurs and brandy will be served as part of “a delectable menu.”

An exciting recipe for the Cham

pagne Royal Cocktail will be posted to all Qantas catering personnel along the routes, and all Flight Stewards will mix this “Speciality de Jour.”

A delectable menu has been pre pared, so all passengers may hap pily celebrate the Coronation though thousands of feet in the air.

J. A. Johnstone of BSI

Leaves for Coronation

Mr. J. A. Johnstone, Mbe

one of the two BSIP officii representatives at the Cor onation, left Honiara by Qantas or April 14. He will spend some week in Sydney before going on to th( UK.

Mr. Johnstone, who was born ii England, was one of the origina Anzacs. He went to the BSI in thi early 20’s and was one of the parti which went to Malaita to restori