Air-Travellers for South-West Pacific

Mr. P. Matthews is acting as Public Relations Officer, Fiji, during the absence on six months’ leave of Mr. L. G. Usher. Mr. Usher will spend part of his leave as press liaison officer in the Orient liners Orsova and Orcades on their pioneer ing voyages between Sydney and London via North American ports and Panama.

t The Bank of Indo-China, whose Noumea branch has a monopoly of banking business in New Caledonia, intends to open a branch in the New Hebrides. Accounts published in Pans show that in 1954 the bank had a profit of nearly 730,000,000 Metropolitan francs (about £A876,000), compared with 640,000 000 francs in 1953.

t A resident of the Marques writing from Taha Uka, Hiva Island, reports considerable devele mental work being undertak there by the Public Works Depai ment of French Oceania, schooner wharf is now in operatt and access roads to the main coh areas are nearing completion.

Outward bound from Sydney to the Islands in May, by Qantas, were (left ot right): The Rev. and Mrs. P. Grant and Ian who returene[?] to the Apostolic Church Mission at Oha Island, New Hebrides, after leave in Australia. Mr Andre Mouledous, well-known Noumea mercha[?] who returned there from a business visit to Sydney. Mr. Maurice Lepas who returned to Noumea after vacation in Sydney, was farewelled [?] Miss V. de Villiers; Mr. Lepas is proprietor of a leading tailoring business, "Tailleur de Paris", in Noumea.