Some Notes From Tonga

Vavau, Dec. 1.

Major r. haven-hart of cey lon, a well-known British traveller, writer, and anthro pologist, has just concluded several months’ study in Vava’u where he investigated cultural change in terms of music.

Selecting a group of well-known English tunes—hymn tunes, rounds, and popular music—he traced the variations which have been made in them by native Tongan musicians.

As might have been expected, he discovered a definite “Polynesianisa tion” in all the music with some most interesting results.

Major Raven-Hart expects to pub lish his work as part of his thesis for a PHD degree from London University.

Noel Baylis, head of the account ing department of Burns Philp, Nei afu, is back in Vava’u after a brief leave in Australia.

Robert Leyden has recently taken over the managership of the Neiafu Club.

Mr. Alick Denny, popular manager of Burns Philp, Nukualofa, has been winning all the races Tongatapu lately with the 16-ft. sailboat he brought back from his recent leave in New Zealand He calls the boat Jennifer after his charming three-years-old daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Baker of Rarotonga, left by Maui Pomare early December to spend furlough in New Zealand. Mr. Baker is Director of Agriculture in the Cook Islands.

Christmas messages from Samoan residents of Wellington, NZ were

recorded by the New Zealand Broad casting Service at the formed Samoa Mo Samoa Clubc there during December, and de spatched to Apia for rebroadcastl from the local radio station. The* club has a membership of aboutl 70. There are about 200 Samoansc living in or near Wellington.