Do You Remember?
p. 81 · Read in the full issue
From PIM of 20 Years ago
VI/’EATHER seemed to be occupy- T f ing a lot of the Islanders’ time in the Pacific during the first months of 1938, for then as now it was the hurricane season.
Fiji was hit—Suva itself escaped but 50 per cent, of the sugar crop in some districts was flattened, and there was flooding. Port Moresby was having storm trouble, too, and St. John’s Church lost one wall.
Raratonga was preparing for its ex pected emergency (which never came).
Other events from PIM of March, 1938: In Rabaul, a Federal Government committee was still hearing evidence to decide where New Guinea's new administrative headquarters should go, since volcanic Rabaul was regarded as unsuitable. Virtually every town in New Guinea was being lobbied by its respective residents. Wau felt it had a strong chance. * ❖ * For those who think that history doesn't repeat itself, there was proceeding in West Samoa a serious inquiry into the economic and political future of the territory. There was a special investigation into the whole
of the Administration personnel and services with the idea of reorganisation and salar revision.
In New Hebrides it was quaintly announce* that the letter rate had been raised from 5< to 60 centimes "in order to allow for th< use of 60 centimes stamps, the stock of 51 centimes stamps being almost exhausted". ❖ He * A party of US officials landed on Canton an* Enderbury islands and hoisted American flag alongside the British. The Americans had mad a formal claim to the islands after searofiim historical records. The new move was con nected with rival British and American plan to establish air mail services across th< Pacific. However, everything was done in < friendly manner. * He * Navua district of Fiji had just had sevei dysentry deaths among Indians and Fijians and more were expected. The Medical Depart ment was under fire.
He sfc j|c An old New Guinea hand was complainini bitterly that too many so-called miners wen coming into the Territory, handling the native the wrong way and "spoiling them", "so tha they are very little good to themselves o anyone else, as it is almost impossible to un spoil them".