Norfolk Is. Notes

rpHE Norfolk Island Horticultural J. show took place in mid October and although entries were not as numerous as in previous years the quality of most exhibits was very high. Mrs. Monty Laing won the Administrator’s Cup for the most points scored and a former New Guinea resident Mrs. Marjory Davis was only 6 points behind.

Residents on the island met during the month to hear suggested improvements to tourist facilities.

They discussed means of improving fishing, tennis and other sporting facilities, Islands concerts, barbecues and accommodation. All agreed that the best advertisement for the island was an enthusiastic guest.

Heavy rain, a tin roof and bad acoustics provided players with some stiff competition during a Revue staged recently by the Norfolk Island Dramatic and Operatic Society. It was the Society’s annual performance and the large crowd which packed Rawson Hall was well entertained, in spite of the rain.

During June and July many poultry owners on the island were getting 7/- a dozen for eggs. But during September they had more eggs than they knew what to do with —and to make matters worse, there was no egg preserver in the stores.

Residents are becoming impatient with the lack of road maintenance.

Highly expensive Works Depart ment graders are used occasionally, but islanders would rather see one man with a lorry load of coral em ployed full time to fill in scours and pot holes before the roads become unusable. Petrol dropped in price to 6/1 a gallon during September.

The Department of Civil Avia tion’s recent demand of £250 per annum for the weekly broadcast of plane and shipping movements was refused. Residents are not happy about the service being discontinued as they no longer have news of delayed arrivals.

The MV Malaita experienced her first delay in years on her Sept, call at Norfolk Island. Big seas were running at both landing places and it was three days before un loading could commence. Round trip passengers were not incon venienced by the weather.