News Of Bsip Residents

From Our Own Correspondent HONIARA, August 20.

The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Mr. R. C. S. Stanley, accompanied by the First Assistant Secretary (Mr. H.

A. C. Dobbs) paid a brief visit to the Lord Howe Atoll at the end of July.

On August 4 the High Commissioner and Mrs. Stanley left in MV “Betua” for a three weeks’ tour of Malaita and the Nggela Group.

Miss Stanley left on August 4 by Qantas aircraft for a short holiday in Australia. * Mr. L. C. Thomas, managing director of Lever’s Pacific Plantations Pty., Limited, has been appointed a member of the BSIP Copra Board, in place of Mr. R, C. Symes, who has resigned. * The Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross left Honiara on August 17, for New Zealand via the Reef Islands, Santa Cruz and the New Hebrides.

Mr. J. Spillus, who has spent the last 14 months on anthropological work on Tikopia, is a passenger in the vessel for New Zealand, en route to the UK.

Other passengers for New Zealand are the Venerable Archdeacon H. V. C.

Reynolds, the Rev. Philip Baker, Miss Stead, of Pamua School, and Sister Cope land, of Fuabu Hospital, Malaita. Miss Stead is taking four Melanesian school girls to New Zealand so that they can see some New Zealand girls’ schools and learn something about general education in New Zealand. The girls will return to the Protectorate in the Southern Cross.

Outward passengers for the New Hebrides included Archdeacon Teall and Melanesian clergy from New Hebrides who have been in the Solomons to attend a Synod and Conference, which was held at Pawa. Bishop Caulton, nine European priests and 39 Melanesian priests attended.

The Mission hopes to bring Dr.

Schneiderman and Miss Hunt from New Zealand on the return voyage of the Southern Cross. Dr. Schneiderman will be stationed at Fuabu Hospital, and Miss Hunt will join the staff of one of * the Mission’s girls’ schools as a teacher. * The Most Reverend J. M. Aubin, Roman Catholic Bishop of the South Solomons, has been appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Honorary).

Mr. R. F. Calvert, who has been Chief Wireless Officer in the BSIP left by air on August 17, for Sydney. Mrs. Calvert will travel by the next “Malaita.” After taking leave in Australia, they will go to Nigeria on transfer.

In a brief address from the Solomon Islands broadcasting station, VQO, the Chief Secretary of Western Pacific High Commission, Mr. R. J. Minnitt, thanked Mr. Calvert for the hard work, technical skill and unfailing continuity of purpose by which he had built and assembled the equipment for the broadcasting station, and for the many hours of time which

he had given to VQO’s nightly programmes since the opening of the station almost a year ago.

On behalf of listeners, he wished Mr. and Mrs. Calvert the best of luck in the new appointment. * Anxiety was felt in Honiara on August 10 when four Europeans and two natives who had set out on a week-end fishing trip were overdue after a day and night of stormy weather.

The party, comprising Mr. T. H.

Manning (Protectorate Postmaster), Mrs.

Manning, Mr. N. K. Wallis, managing director of Tenaru Timbers, Limited, and Mrs. Murray Jackson, of Sydney, left on Saturday afternoon for Nugu Island, about 15 miles from the Guadalcanal coast, in a small launch belonging to Mr. K. H.

Dalrymple Hay. They intended to return to Honiara on Sunday night. The Govern

ment launch Raumati was sent to search for them on Monday morning: and the MV Margery left shortly after.

It was feared that the engine might have broken down and the launch be drifting in the strong wind and rough sea.

However, the rescue ships found the party peacefully packing un at midday for the return trip. The weather had been too bad to leave the Nugu anchorage, but improved by Monday afternoon, and they returned uneventfully early on Monday evening.

U Miss So Kin Hoi, a 17 years-old Chinese girl from Fiji, is to stay in Singleton, NSW, while taking a course of shorthand-typing at St.

Catherine’s College. Miss Hoi, is the daughter of Mr. G. T. Hoi, a Suva business man.