Do You Remember

Frotn PIM of 20 Years ago.

GOLD was still an overwhelming

preoccupation in June, 1935, and

PIM published nearly nine

columns of detailed reports from New Guinea and Fiji as well as general reviews. Advertisements for

mining plant, machinery, and for

correspondence courses in metal

lurgy, prospecting and assaying,

abounded.

Here are other extracts from that issue of 20 years ago: PIM editorial complained that while the New Guinea gold industry was expanding, the remainder of the territory was in “a condition of virtual stagnation”. It added: “The Department of Agriculture appears to have done what it could to encourage planters to cultivate crops as an alternative to coconuts, such as cocoa, coffee, kapok, etc., but the Administration generally has sat with folded hands and thanked God for the gold industry”. * * * Fiji was reported to be still in the throes of gold fever, and the Colony was “being overrun” by all sorts and conditions of people from all parts of the world, all of them obsessed with the idea of getting in early. In the Tavua district, along the river valleys across Viti Levu, and even in the neighbourhood of Suva, prospectors were at work. PIM commented tartly: “The cold fact of the matter, however, is that to date only one mine has been proved—Mr. Theodore’s Emperor Mine at Tavua”. Mr. Theodore, it was noted, was at Tavua, “working hard but giving very little indication of his plans”. * • * First unit of the British Commonwealth and Empire to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary on May 6, 1935, was the Kingdom of Tonga.

The then British Agent and Consul at Nukualofa (Mr. J. S. Neill) pointed out this was because of Tonga’s geographical situation and the method of calculating local time. Queen Salote and her Consort (the late Prince Tungi) led the colourful celebrations. * * S “A parasite insect which destroys lan

tana will shortly be introduced to A tralia from Fiji, and a CSIRO entomoloi will visit Fiji immediately to obi specimens of this bug,” it was annoum (Despite this enthusiasm, lantana is : an expensive, noxious weed in Fiji). * * * There was commotion and specula* because, on May 13, the United Sts had formally annexed Swain’s Isll (Olosenga), an atoll about 300 miles no of the Samoan Group. Swain’s Isll had always been regarded as part of New Zealand-administered Tokelau Gro There were vague reports that the as was to play some part in American defe plans in the Pacific. “It is even saj added PIM, “that the famous lags (freshwater) is to become a landing-ph for a line of American trans-Pacific s planes”. (No big developments ensued). * * * Treasure-hunters from England who been making investigations in the Tuam Archipelago (and rousing feverish spc lation on the Papeete waterfront in process) were reported to be optimh They had returned to Tahiti and then dispersed to endeavour to raise m capital for the project. There was t in Tahiti about “five tons of goll bullion” buried beneath 18 ft. of sand water somewhere in the Tuamotus. far as is known, it all remaii theoretical). * « • PIM correspondents were engaged ill wordy and embittered battle over still-disputed subject of corporal pum ment in New Guinea, and questions w being asked in the Australian Press alf the working of the judicial system thr With reference to complaints of treatment of natives by Europeans, Minister in Charge of Territories (Sin Pearce) had said: “The Administration particularly zealous in dealing with welfare of natives, and takes appropn action in any case of alleged ill-tr* ment”. He said that, with one except! persons charged during the previous i years with ill-treatment of natives in I Guinea had not been employed by Administration.