The Seven Days Drool

is Over

Entertaining, unusual and exciting events are happening' all the time in the Pacific,, but they don’t make news..

Only once in a while do we; have the spectacle of a Pacific rabbit escaping from the hat—with the press pack in full cry. Then, why that particular incident should be singled out for front-page treat ment can be counted amongst the imponderables.

But city newspapers are not alone in manufacturing sensationalism., Islands beach-talk can produce a pretty fair line of it.

In the latest sensation —the ape and Mr. Tomarchin —Suva con tributed a couple of spicy ingredients to the boiling pot—an alleged tie up to the Joyita; and the “mysteri ous mast —just like the one the Flying Walrus could have had.” (If subsequently turned out that the mast had been there about 20 years) The coconut-radio in Tah i t worked overtime. • Tomarchin had been found on a raft 100 miles from Pitcairn ano “Flying Walrus” had foundered.. • Tomarchin had been pu) ashore on Henderson at the poim of a gun, and abandoned. • The “authorities” were jusi icaiting for “Flying Walrus” to pm. in somewhere, and her owners would be arrested.

By now, of course, Mr. Tomarchii. and his chimpanzee who capered over the front pages of Australian newspapers for a whole week, hayv been consigned to their niche i:i h 4 story.

Presumably, the Fiji Government which has the oversight of Henden son, Pitcairn, etc., and could ban its teeth at Tomarchin, is prepares to forget the incident if he re moves himself and his monkey oc the next ship travelling east.

Who gave Tomarchin permissioc to land on Henderson anyway? C permission to take a monkey t Pitcairn?

Anyone who has tried to take healthy, Australian cat or dog inti one of the Pacific territories muu be wondering why apes are di;x ferent. But maybe the ape ws 7 travelling on a passport.