Canton Is. Has Influx
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
Of Visitors
ANEW lounge for air passengers, said to be the most luxurious in the South Pacific, was opened at Canton on August 29. Decora tions include a 3-D map of the island which cost $l,OOO.
In early September, salvage men with their families were expected at the atoll to commence work on the wreck of the President Taylor, recently advertised with other Island wrecks and purchased by a syndicate.
It is understood that Mr. Fullard- Leo, Jnr., owner of Palmyra Island, has an interest in the company.
Late in August, a large US Navy tug with a crew of 80 men, arrived from Honolulu with a huge open barge in tow. The barge carried bagged cement and asphalt for construction of a new taxi-way from the terminal buildings to the main airstrip. Labourers were ex pected to arrive by air early Sep tember, under contract to CAA.
First European wedding ever to take place on Canton was scheduled for September. The American bridegroom is a radio technician employed on the island and the bride was expected from the States.
The marriage was to be performed by the British Administrative Officer, Mr. Jim Brundell.
Because the US post office has now refused permission for Pan American to carry mail stamped at surface-mail rates the island is ex periencing great difficulty in re ceiving this class of mail. An arrangement has now been reached, it is understood, whereby Captain Dusty” Miller, who operates a fish ing business at Canton, will carry this mail south in his vessel, Joita, at regular intervals.
Captain Miller’s fishing enterprise and another operated by Mr. Bob Sutherland, of Suva, and Mr. Joe Maderis, of Honolulu, with Gil bertese labour, are prospering. Large quantities of frozen parrot-fish are being air-freighted to Honolulu. It is mainly reef fishing.
Canton now has three social Clubs —CAA’s “Canton Island Club” for bachelors: the “Tower Club,” on the north side of the island; and PAA’s “Clipper Club”—the latter selling quart bottles of New Zea land beer at 20 cents—the price the Americans pay for their preferred pint cans.
During July, Tasman Steamship’s Ada repatriated labourers to the Gilberts and brought a new party south. Captain Harness, of Suva relieving master in Ada, left the vessel at Canton in mid-August and flew back to New Zealand to con his vac ation there. Chief Dfficsr Ross took over the com mand.