Do You Remember ?

From PIM of 20 Years ago.

PAPUAN rubber planters, after

their technical triumph of a few months earlier, were un

happy again in May, 1933. With

copra planters, of course, unhappi ness had long become a habit. But air companies and gold mines were making handsome profits and New Guinea had got its first Legislative

Council though we indicated,

editorially, that we did not expect that it would do them much real

good.

Here are some of the other things we published in the issue of May, 1935: “A number of Talkie pictures have been Exhibited in Rarotonga recently but owing to the absence of the necessary equipment have appeared as ordinary silent films They are hard to understand as they are devoid of captions. Mr. W.

Browne has decided to install talkie plant in his theatre and the first sound picture is being awaited with great interest by the native people.” * * * Newspapers—including the PlM—ap oarently had much more spare space in those days (and printing paper was about 3d per lb in comparison with 2/- to-day).

Therefore, we were able to devote the whole of page 7 to a lengthy description by the late (and wordy) A. J. Vogan on how to resuscitate after shock. Perhaps he, and we, had harassed planters in mind. He said that suicide by gas poisoning was greatly on the increase in England and America but this, fortu nately, was beyond the reach of owners of plantations. * * * A Solomon Islands resident who evidently believed in the blessings of isolation, wrote complaining that the steamer services between Australia and BSI were too frequent—he said that it was gross extravagance that planters and business men in the Group had to “dance attendance” on steamers 10 times a year now instead of eight. He said that al though it was “very nice” to receive mail 10 times per annum, it was of no real benefit to the coconut industry. * * Dr. Loftus Hills, a geologist, had arried in Suva and had been met by Mr. Pat Costello whom we described as a well known mining man. It was believed that Dr. Hills was in Fiji to inspect areas near Tavau where colours had been found, although Fiji’s biggest gold find, we said, was on Vanua Levu. Dr. Woo Thou« r h Australian Government geologist, who had

recently passed through Fiji had given th opinion that Fiji was not old enoug to produce a substantial find of gold. * * * Japanese “mystery ships” were reportt over a wide area of the SW-Pacific. Or had been arrested at Thursday Islam another sighted in Torres Strait, a thii had made a raid on trochus beds i Bougainville and there seemed to be tv in the Solomons area. One of the las described as being of peculiar build, of 2i tons with triple engines and powerfi wireless, was wrecked near Ontong, Javi The ships were generally supposed to 1 shell poachers but some people, even thei suspected them of even more ulteru motives. History has shown that the Ja ships combined the business of poachir with useful spying. * * * More trouble was reported from tl area between the Papuan border an Surprise Creek, New Guinea, where Patr Officer J. K. McCarthy (in 1953 Distil Commissioner of New Britain) was trad ing down the murderers of Naylor an Clarius. P.O. McCarthy had taken ] prisoners and was on his way back to tl patrol post when the party was ambushei He collected an arrow in the stomac and another in the thigh; six of h police boys were hit; and five of tl prisoners killed in the fighting. Mr. M( Carthy was able to rally his police-bo] and they beat off the attack. ,h* eventually got back to base where an a police-boy were taken to hospital s Salamaua. ❖ Sfc $ The Minister in Charge of Australia Pacific Territories, Major C. W. C. Mar and party, toured Papua a' ' New Guinf in April and May 1933 j,.id on May i at Rabaul, formally opened the fin session of New Guinea’s first Legislath Council. * * * Papuan rubber planters were still i trouble. Although they should have bee receiving back from the Commonwealt Government the 4d per pound duty whic was to have been collected on their rubb< when entering Australia, they had, i fact, received nothing as the Australia manufacturers were holding the rubb* in bond and the Customs Department wa collecting nothing. They told Ministc Marr when he was in Port Moresby tha unless something was done immediately the Papuan rubber industry would soo; cease. **• *s* Robusta coffee was bringing about £4 per ton; top grade Arabica £79 per ton Accra cocoa was £3O per ton, Trinadai £35 per ton.

ier after the murder of Bell and lies in 1925.

U:ter the Japanese occupation of lagi in 1942 he and several others ; away in a small vessel and, er a hazardous voyage, reached ; New Hebrides. Mr. Johnstone er served with the rank of Major the British Solomon Islands hour Corps, He is one of the st respected and popular Fro torate residents; his selection as official representative at the ronation has been warmly wel ned.

Who Gets The Band?

ABAUL will have a week of the usual festivities to mark the Coronation a procession of its, fireworks, tree-p la nti n g, ner and ball—and in addition, as permanent reminder of the asion, a- reconditioned sports und. ‘lans are to level the ground, in e remove some of the buildings ,t encroach upon it now, build nis courts, baseball field, cricket ;hes, etc., and erect memorial es on which will be recorded the nes of New Guinea residents, pice and civilian, who lost their ;s during World War 11. ’he whole project will cost about )00; and £7OO of this has been nted by the Administration and rest will be raised locally. A ;ery, with 2,000 £1 tickets and a it prize of a trip to Japan and igkong, and £lOO spending money low being organised towards the ject. lut one thing that Rabaul thinks

it will have for the Coronation celebration —and probably will not have—is one of Port Moresby’s two bands. Both Rabaul and Lae have asked for the second band. Rabaul thinks it has got in first; Lae says it definitely will have the band.

And a band is not to be sneezed at in these parts.

Lae will telescope most of its celebrations into two days—which will probably disorganise the labour less and please businessmen more.

They will name a new roadway Coronation Drive.—JT.

At the end of April, the following donations had been made towards the Fund for the Reconstruction of Queen Elizabeth Park, Rabaul:—

Madang Plans

The citizens of Madang are building a pavilion at the Sports Ground to commemorate the Coronation; this is being financed entirely by the townsfolk. The necessary building materials have been donated, and artisans are giving their services in erecting and painting the structure. The pavilion will seat 200 people, and

Is to be fully equipped with dress ing rooms and showers.

The Administration is likewise creating a permanent “Coronation” asset in the form of a two-mile marine drive to be called “Corona r tion Drive.” It will give the town a beautiful marine roadway which will be planted on each side with peltophorum trees. The work is be ing done by the District Services Department without dipping into official “Coronation Funds,” and is expected to be finished in time for the Coronation celebrations.

Nz Islands

Representatives

New Zealand Islands Territories representatives to the Coronation were selected in April—Flight Ser geant Marama Nicholas, of Cook Islands, Wartime member of the RNZAF; and Bombardier Eric Groves, of Western Samoa, who had almost five years’ service in the Second NZEF.

An artist’s impression of the Queen Elizabeth Park which Rabaul residents are [?]nning as a permanent Coronation memorial. The park is to be divided into four tions, each bordered by trees. In the top left section there is room for a swimming [?] bowling green and four tennis courts, as well as stands and picnic areas. The [?] right section contains cricket and baseball fields. Bottom left, rugby football [?]ds; and, bottom right, soccer fields, basketball courts and more picnic areas, [?] whole park will cost about £5,000 to recondition —the present sports ground will incorporated in it. The whole area is bounded by Yara Avenue, Kamarere St., cambium Ave., and Court St.

Administration Grant .. £700 0 0 Mrs. Una Adams 50 0 0 The Estate of the late Harry Adams 50 0 0 Rabaul Basketball Association 50 0 0 Mr. J. K. McCarthy 10 0 0 Mr. M. Orken 3 3 0 Mr. D. Barrett 10 0 0 Mr. R. Elliott 5 0 0 Mrs. Pudge 10 0 0 Mr. P. Boisen 15 0 0 Mr. W. J. Reid 20 0 0 Mr. J. T. Allen 20 0 0 Miss M. Egan 3 3 0 £946 6 0