Diver Leaves Salvage
p. 153 · Read in the full issue
Company
Bottom Out of Scrap Metal
DIVER and salvage expert John Johnstone has ended his agree ment with the Pacific Islands Salvage Company which was formed to recover scrap from ships sunk in Rabaul during the war.
Reason is that the scrap market has slumped and that the depth at which the ships lie in Rabaul harbour makes the work of salvage uneconomic at present prices.
Recent loss of the Coral Star ad ministered the coup de grace to the company’s prospects—it was carry
ing equipment that could have been used on the wrecks.
The days of scrap-metal fortunes in the Pacific seem to be over.
Japan, which is about the only country still buying scrap, can get all it wants close to home now— from Korea.
Mr. Kenneth Mills, of Auckland, has been appointed Resident Agent, Mauke, Cook Islands. His wife is a daughter of the well-k no w n Niiturepu family of Ngatangiia, Rarotonga. He is doing his final architecture at the University. He has also studied anthropology and archaeology and is interested in these aspects of the Islands. He takes up his new appointment in September.