Poet’S Imagery

Shall I burst all links of habit — there to wander far away, On from island unto island at the gateway of the day?

Larger constellations burning, mellow moons and happy skies, Breadths of tropic shade and palms in cluster, knots of Paradise Droops the heavy-blossom’d bower, hangs the heavy-fruited tree — Summer isles of Eden lying in dark purple. spheres of sea. —By Tennyson (who never even saw the Islands), in Locksley Hall.

Mr. W. A. Milne, assistant-Super intendent of Police in Fiji, has been transferred to a similar position in Kenya.

U Sir Alport and Lady Barker, of Fiji, recently visited Norfolk Island for a short visit. Sir Alport’s sister, Mrs. E. Moltke, is a resident of the island.

ft Following the death of his father (Sir Walter Carpenter), Mr. R. B.

Carpenter has been appointed Chairman of Messrs. W. R. Car penter & Co. Ltd.

fl Among Islanders who have been present at Royal functions in Syd ney during the visit of the Queen are Mr. and Mrs. Basil Hicks and Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Bernhardt, of the Solomon Islands. Mr. Hicks was present at the Investiture on Feb ruary 6, and received the MBE from Her Majesty.

Probably the last time this Pagan ceremony will be performed in a village on the outskirts of Port Moresby: When Peter-Vagi, an old Hanuabadan, died early in Jaunary, his two wives went through the age-old Papuan ritual of bedecking themselves for several months of mourning. Wearing ropes of the dead man’s hair around their necks, and native-made string bags containing feathers, they have blackened their faces with burnt coconut. Peter-Vagi who was over 90 at the time of his death, was one of the few old-timers who re fused to conform to Christianity. But

he was a village councillor for some years and well respected by his people. —Photo by Papuan Prints.