Norfolk Island Notes
p. 122 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent TV/TR. WARD PRICE, the celebrated English journalist and war corres pondent, paid a short visit to Norfolk Island recently. He didn’t get around much as his health is not good, but he collected a lot of data about the Island and its early history from the Adminis tration, and some articles or a story will probably be forthcoming.
Another Federal Government financial expert is with us, and it looks as though one of his chores is to find out whether there is enough talent or craftsmen on the Island to do essential building and constructional work without the aid of the Commonwealth Works and Housing Department.
The Administrator evidently thinks so, as renovation work on Government House is being done by local tradesmen and tenders are being called locally for repairs to the gaol, etc.
It is years since the gaol had a tenant, but now that we have a retired detective inspector as our police officer, it is probable that a few malefactors will ex perience durance vile (or a pleasant holiday at the seaside).
The Governor-General, Sir William Slim, paid a five-day visit to us in early December.
Although we were overawed at the pages of instructions, issued beforehand, telling us what to wear and what to do on the occasion, the visit has been happily informal and we are all pleased at His Excellency’s lack of starchiness.
On December 2, Norfolk folk put on one of their famous and lavish picnic luncheons, spread on tarpaulins on the
grass at Government House. Later, Miss Kitty Quintal made a presentation to Sir William who, in a brief speech, replied mentioning the warmth of his welcome, he said that he felt very happy—despite the fact that he had eaten too much lunch.
tl Mr. Maynard Hedstrom, of Suva,
accompanied by Mrs. Hedstrom, is
on holiday in New Zealand re couperating from a recent illness.
Outward passengers for Australia by the MV Malaita which sailed from Honiara on November 7, were Miss Milling, Mrs. R. Johnson anc child, Mrs. R. Westbrook, Mrs. J. J C. Sucklind and two children, Mrs) Harper, the Rev. Father D. J Moore, the Rev. A. T. Hill, and Mrsi Muller and two daughters, from Yandina.