Centenary of

Norfolk Celebrates Centenary of Pitcairner Occupation

TN his reply to the address a 7- welcome on arrival at Norfol; Island for the Centenary celebra tions in June, the Governor-Genera of Australia, Sir William Slim spoke of the forthcoming visit a the Duke of Edinburgh to thi Island. He said the Duke was ver keen on the projected visit and hat remarked, when the matter wai referred to him: “Just try and sto’ me.”

On this cheerful note of pleasure to come, the NT celebrations got oil to a quick start in spite of the un. fortunate illness that had remove* Mr. Ray H. H. Nobbs to Green slopes Repatriation Hospital, Bris; bane (by special mercy flight)! almost on the eve of the festivities Mr. Nobbs, as President of thj Norfolk Island Advisory Council, ha* helped plan the centenary for th past two years.

His place was taken by Mi Wilfred M. Randall, the Deput President, who ably handled th. arduous job imposed on him ai short notice.

Fine, bright weather was experii enced for the first day’s celebrai tions and interest was at its peal for the re-enactment of the origina landing of the Pitcairn Islander -100 years previously.

The costumes of those landing from the boats at the Kingston Jett; were replicas of the origina costumes.

After parading before the dais 01 which were seated His Excellence and Lady Slim, Minister for Terrii tories Paul Hasluck and Mrs Hasluck, other official guests am. members of the Advisory Council etc., Sir William unveiled the plaqm commemorating the arrival of thi Pitcairners in 1856.

After the procession had visiter the Cemetery and Government House, all adjourned to All Saint Church for the combined Thanks? giving Service—at which thu Speaker was the Bishop of Nelson (the Rt. Rev. F. Hulme-Moir), thu representative of the Primate 0: Australia.

Then all went to the “mile long picnic lunch on the Common —t traditional feature of the annua; “Bounty Day” celebrations.

A feature of the Celebrations wa,j the arrival of HMAS Arunta (Com: mander W. K. Tapp, RAN) witK the fleet band. The band was in attendance at all functions until thu ship’s departure, on June 11, but left behind eight members of thu band to act as an orchestra for thu

Centenary Ball on the 12th, that ;nded the festivities.

A colourful ceremony was the presenting of a silk flag and carved ;tand to the people of Norfolk [si and by Mr. Hasluck on behalf >f the Australian Government, On the morning of the 12th, the Minister for Territories, on behalf of ;he Government of Australia, and iccompanied by members of the Parliamentary Delegation, attended he Council Chambers and presented ,o the Advisory Council a mag lificent “Speaker’s” chair and stool.

The success of the Centenary Celebrations was due to the excel ent work of the Centenary Com nittee over the past two years, and ;o the last-minute work of the Ad ninistrator and his very able official iccretary, Mr. C. I. Buffett, who vorked day and night on the eve >f the Celebrations to make sure ill details had been attended to.

Mrs. John Gutch, wife of the ligh Commissioner of the Western left Honiara, BSIP on the tareau in June with the HC and lis party, who were to make a tour )f the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. But Mrs. Gutch will leave he ship at Canton Is. and fly to the JK to spend the school-holidays vith her children.

t The US Naval submarine USS Pomodon spent two days in Pago Pago in May, having arrived from

Tahiti on May 22. The ship carried 7 officers and 74 enlisted men. She left for Fiji on May 24.

(I Dr. W. Skiba, who was formerly in charge of the Fiji Geological Sur vey, and is now lecturing at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, is currently spending 3 months leave in Fiji. fl Makea Nui Teremoana Ariki, paramount Ariki of the Cook Islands, was awarded the CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in May.

U Mr. Donald McLoughlan, formerly a barrister practising in Perth, WA, has joined the Colonial Service and has been appointed a magistrate in Fiji. t The USS Catfish, an American submarine, arrived at Papeete on June 23 from Guam, and sailed against on June 26 for San Diego, California.