The Editors' Mailbag

P-NG and that

Oxford Atlas

Geologist G. A. V. Stanley says yes , he knew that at the time tie wrote his criticism of the Oxford Atlas he knew that there was a later edition. (PIM, May, p. 18).

But he is still not satisfied with that. He says: Of the mistakes and omissions to which I drew attention all remain (in the revised edition) except; 1. On Plate 66, the political boundary between Indonesia and Netherlands New Guinea (West Irian) has been added, and accords, more or less, with the same boundary shown on Plate 61. 2. The inland town of Balwa (misprint for Bulwa?) has been de leted, but Wau and Bulolo have not been inserted. The mythical inland town of Mugulo remains. 3. Samarai, it is true, has been removed from the Mainland by de leting the black dot, and it is now Impossible, even with a lens, to tell which of the islands around about is this very important centre. For good measure, in revising, Daru has been deleted (black dot and all), while nearby Bugi and Pagona re main.

It is pleasing to know that the interest of the Australian Branch of the Oxford University Press has been aroused, and the substitution of Katoomba for the town of Blue

Mountains (on Plate 71), is a step in the right direction.

Some attention might be given to the Structure Map of Great Britain, which at present is a repulsive, meaningless jumble; and there is good grounds for complaint that Sicily (Plate 38), is not entirely as depicted.

But this sort of thing could go on indefinitely, and it is clear that what is really needed is some careful editing of the proofs by persons with local cartographic knowledge.

The Ghost that Walked

Like a Puss-Puss

The time was when Australian publications could print anything about Papua or New Guinea and get away with it. But not now.

In these days of air-freighted newspapers and magazines, even to the remotest parts of the Territory, woe betide anyone who shoots off his mouth or gets his facts crossed up.

E. J. Hackforth of Port Moresby encloses a small clipping from the magazine People of May 15, with his letter of June 1.

The clipping says: The Samarai Hotel, which serves the 60-odd white inhabitants of the 56-acre coral atoll, Samarai, Papua, is believed by many to be haunted. The natives swear that a dim-dim (white man) "goes walkabout all same puss puss" (noiselessly). The hotel was originally shipped, in pieces, to Samarai from Cooktown Queensland, where it was also reputed to be

haunted. Its owner there was Jack Ellil tin-fii.ner who made two fortunes am them before he was 35. To keep hisi around him he boarded them "on the I until he sold out.—J.E.B., NSW.

And Mr. Hackforth says Apparently the author got his facts Hans Andersen and Admiralty Chart No..

There is no Samarai Hotel and hasn' 1 since the war. There is, however, a C Guest House but it would be a brave l that haunted Julie Hansen. And surpi enough, coral atolls are scarce in these and Samarai is certanly not one of Furthermore, if anyone told a coon in Si that anything went "walkabout all same puss", he would think that they were nc

Don't Get Flippant

With Uncle Sam

Now we have managed toe Calgary into the wrong sectic North America, and Mrs. Ms Woods, of Vancouver, has wn to tell us about this and s several other matters where we don’t measure up: I recently came across the December, issue of the "Pacific Islands Monthly' was most interested in its contents. I like to express the hope, however, thr anti-American attitude is not typical o publications on your side of the ocean..

Your comments on the New York pendent's letter were boorish, to say the; and the insolent tone of your reply an commentary written by the "Sydneysidei on his visit to the "Mariposa" couldl been signed "Tokyo Rose" and wouldl passed without question.

I am amazed at the ignorance express your Editorial and horrified at statement as "does any informed man believe to-dai another great war can be avoided". I only can—it MUST—be avoided althoi am willing to agree that blind prejudice the kind of statement with which the (Continued on Page 158)

Islands Monthly" is saturated will not nj it an easy task.

In closing, I should like to point out on page 27 of your December issue, j despite your anti-Americanism, you ha handed over the very Canadian town of Calga to the USA. I have consulted the Encyclopai Britannica and there is no town named Calgj in the USA which would justify your error!

Yours for more accurate, and less emotil reporting—MAßJAßl WOODS.

There are several matters tl we could take up with Mrs. Woi —but we will let them pass exc to remark that if she lived do here on the bottom side of Ai instead of being tucked up tli between the United States £ the Arctic Circle, she might ti a different view of world affa But this business of being insol about the Mariposa really rocks] We cannot see the connect between the article referred to a Tokio Rose, and can only conch that to treat any Amerid institution with anything less th awe is regarded as a bad case] lese-majesty.

To revert to Calgary: On check! back we find that this item written by no less than Perambulating Publisher, then a visit to Papua-New Guinea (£ currently there again). As he a Fellow of the Royal Geographi Society, we blush for him; s for the sub-editor who let it pi Sorry too much, Sinabada.

Showing the Tourists

the Real Moresby

A reader called H.H.. from I Moresby, writes from there once —commend us. This make pleasant change after that slap c the knuckles from Canada.

H.H. follows up the Tropicalitj PIM concerning the treatrr of a kitten in Hanuabada and suggestion that a branch of RSPCA would be in order. She \ on: Some real good may come of terested folks taking VlP’s f “Eulolo” round Titana Village i other side of causeway, bey Hanuabada), to let them see \ slum with the diseased humans animals in their hundreds wl our Administration cheer f u ignores.

A scream from some impor but sensitive soul might do r good than spending hundreds pounds (as has been suggested , a model village for the tourists, might even bring out an author officer with sympathetic shot pericdically—for the animals, course.

Has Mr. Hasluck ever seen Tit 1 wonder?