A Wheeley-Wheeley Built For Ten

' since the world began— . when the first caveman traded his stone axe for a woman— the instinct to trade has been inherent in man. And the instinct is buried deep in the simple New Guinea native.

A native of Buin, living in Lae, saved enough funds to purchase a

pjcycle—or wheeley-wheeley as it

ls^nown — anc * so became a man of affluence.

To further augment his income, and to realise on his investment, ne now lets out the bicycle to would-be riders at 2/- for two hours. With an old bomb table as a step, the customers wait their turn for their two bobs’ worth.

And there are plenty of customers, which makes the owner happy—for the time being at any rate. For there could be a problem ahead.

Many of the riders are curious as to just how the machine works, and occasionally one of them gets full value for his two bob by pulling

part of the bike to pieces. One of these days there is going to be some pieces left over—and then the feuding will start.— PAT.

They’Re Shifting House

ONE of the curiosities of the Tokelau atolls, north of Samoa, is the way in which the entire population has become crowded onto one tiny islet, despite the fact there is plenty of room apparently on nearby islets.

This crowding has become particularly bad at Fakaofo, southern-most of the three New Zealand atolls. Reasons given are availability of existing fresh water supplies, and also a heritage of the black-birding days when there was safety in concentration of forces.

Last year, however, a re-settle ment scheme was put into progress on Fakaofo, and over 40 families have now been transferred from the old village site on Fakaofo islet— from which the entire atoll takes

its name-to Fanuafala islet a mile along the reef to the north-west at the extreme western corner of the atoll.

Joyita was carrying materials north from Apia to the Tokelaus as part of this re- settlement scheme when she went missing in October, 1955 The officer in charge of Tokelau administration was one of those lost from that vessel.