Norfolk Is.

News Notes from Norfolk Is.

A VISITING New Zealand dentist was busy depleting savings bank accounts in Norfolk Island in October. He did phenomenal business and half the islanders are now replendent in shiny new teeth.

What we need here is a resident, semi-retired dentist to give us the service the late Mr. Hyder provided for so many years. * * * Conservatism and commonsense prevailed when the Advisory Council sat down to its preliminary con sideration to the long-awaited Motor Vehicles Ordinance.

They promptly vetoed the sug gestion that the mainland habit of fixing new number plates to vehicles be the rule here.

Although there has been an in flux of new cars lately and the total number of registrations continually grows, it is considered that the good old Norfolk Island custom of paint ing the number on the rear of the car is quite sufficient.

The question of warrants of fitness for the many old “bombs” was not debated at the first meeting but some control over quality of lights and brakes is necessary. * * ♦ Returned to the island for a holi day was Mr. E. J. C. Stopp (once regarded as the local bogey-man) and his wife. Mr. Stopp is now official secretary to the Governor of Tasmania, but formerly was official secretary at NI. It was his duty at the time to suppress the home-brewing, then prevalent.

When he returned the other day, he and Mrs. Stopp were nonetheless welcomed with open arms and had a very enjoyable holiday.

New Moresby

Hospital

There are all mod. cons, for the native patients in Port Moresby's new half* million pound hospital, opened by Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Arthur Fadden, on October 27. Wards, like this open one, are excellently equipped, and include fans. The hospital will accom modate 316 native patients, and a big European wing is now being added. The new combined hospital is on the Taurama Road, and will replace the separate makeshift hospitals that served Port Moresby since the war.