Tropicalities

Pacific Islands Monthly

Magazine Section

r Frey, of New Caledonia

South Pacific was directly presented at one of the great mts of 20th century history [y January—the inauguration nee’s Fifth Republic, and the ition of Charles de Gaulle as mt. new French Government’s dr for Information is Roger /ho, when World War II hit icific, was a modest planter r Caledonia. He was one who to De Gaulle after the sur of France in May, 1940; and tstanding ability was recog vhen, later, he became Gen e Gaulle’s representative at iuth Pacific headquarters of l 1 MacArthur. In the new t, he has succeeded Jacques le, who goes to another post, ues Soustelle and Roger Frey nong President de Gaulle’s trusted lieutenants, in the 1 task of restoring France to ightful place among the n Powers.

Isolated Weavers

ITED Tench Island, a mere - in the ocean 50 miles north Kavieng, New Guinea, has a opulation of only 58, and a 'ea of 120 acres—a great pro of this either swamp or louses are built on the sand ey need no floors, a recent visit by a P-NG stration patrol under Patrol R. W. Hallahan, found it a md lively community. The Island women are capable > and their woven mats of imboo fibre are splendid pro- But they have had to make oms from driftwood as there Dther timber on the island, lese rudely constructed es they turn out delicately mats, bags and other items.

PO Hallahan; “These would )od trade item if only ship ere more frequent. But the rs are fortunate if they see ps a year.” body, no doubt, will find a going into business for them.

That Hula Breeze

cabin of the veteran cruis ketch Te Rapunga in Auck i in January the talk was winds and foul and of the

folly of finding yourself away to leeward of your destination with a fiesh Trade blowing and a very small motor down below.

“I always aim to keep well to windward,” said skipper George Dibbern, “and I lay my courses accordingly: but a few years ago, on a passage between Rarotonga and the Northern Cooks I got a bad fright. I had mail aboard and a few passengers, and it was very im portant that I lay the island. We seemed to be making a good course up to the evening before arrival, and according to my last sights it was a pleasant down-wind run to our destination.

Well, there I was lolling on my bunk feeling pretty pleased with life with the passage all but com pleted. Then suddenly my hair fairly stood on end; there was no mistaking it. Your sense of smell becomes quite acute after weeks at sea—and I could smell what the writers let themselves go on, that soft delicately scented Islands breeze, once smelt never forgotten,

which steals down far over the horizon to whisper of Island Nights to passing mariners.

But it meant only one thing to me; somehow, through compass error maybe, we were to leeward of the atoll and were in for a tough windward beat. I couldn’t believe it.

The sights just wouldn’t admit of such an error yet there it was.

I had an Islands boy as crew at that time. I called him to confirm my disappointment, and as he popped out of the forehatch and bustled aft there was a sickening sweet gust which left no room for doubt —or did it?

Then suddenly it was as though a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders as I realised that this particular island was right here on board —my crew-man, in the midst of his toilet preparations for the morrow—the redolent breeze com ing right off his well oiled head.

Tolais Remember

A MEMORIAL is being built in Rabaul by Tolai native Councils in honour of a former Chief Justice of the Territory, Sir Beaumont Phillips. The memorial will overlook the town and harbour at Rabaul. It will be a type of cairn.

Sir Beaumont died in Australia

YOU'VE GOT TO BE GOOD: This is a ceremonial pig kiling, photographed by a recent Dutch patrol that went out to have a look at a crashed wartime C47 in the Baliem Valley. The pig was presented to the patrol, and killed by having an arrow shot through its heart by a marksman stationed a given number of feet away. The gentlemen squatting behind the two pall-bearers don't appear to have considered the possiblity of the marksman missing the target and sending the arrow in their direction.

KVR Photo .

soon after his retirement, and was held in wide esteem by native lead ers. The memorial is being built to show their appreciation of his help.

Not Just Any Old Parrot

FIJI has got a new four shilling postage stamp which features the Kadavu parrot, found only on the island of Kadavu. The parrot has a vivid scarlet head and breast, brilliant green back, wings and tail, and a bright band of azure blue at the nape of the neck.

Because of its brightness, the stamp is likely to be in great de mand by collectors. What they might like to know is that the parrot represented on the stamp is a pet of the former Governor, Sir Ronald Garvey.

Coming On A Wing and A Prayer MITSUO FUCHIDA, former Jap anese naval air pilot, with the then rank of commander, who lead the flight of aircraft from the carrier Akagi in the attack on Pearl Harbour, will be flying to Australia and New Zealand on a less aggressive mission some time this year.

Now 55-years-old, Fuchida was

converted to Christianity eight years ago and is now a pilot with the American-organised missionary air transport organisation Sky Pilots International of which he is vice president. As such he is also a Christian missionary.

He will be making a lecture tour and will fly a small aircraft across the Pacific to New Zealand from the United States.

The Good Old Days

AMERICANS who served in the South Pacific during the last war will be given a chance to see the growth of some of the towns they knew, when fellow American Miss Julia Miller completes her film on Borneo, Dutch and Australian New Guinea and New Caledonia.

Miss Miller, who is an American travel consultant, has been filming areas in these territories and plans to film for television and for public screenings when she returns to America. She was in Port Moresby in January.

Where Today Meets Tomorrow

THE Governor of Fiji, Sir Kenneth Maddocks, on January 28, un veiled a plaque to mark the line which divides Today and Yesterday.

The plaque is on Taveuni, through which runs the 1 meridian and the Internati Date Line.

The plaque unveiled by Kenneth was donated by his decessor. Sir Ronald Garvey, retired in August and who now : in Essex.

By crossing the 180th meric people either lose or gain a according to the direction they 1 The Taveuni coast road along which the plaque stands is the motor road in the world where driver can gain or lose 24 hour one revolution of his wheels.

That’s the theory of the tl anyhow. But confusion amoun to chaos would be created if of the people of Fiji lived in t< while the other half lived in yes day. To avoid this and to n local administration practicable, date to the west of the meridian is adopted as standard for all Fiji Islands.

The line was previously ma; by a large cross but this fell d many years ago. From then r Sir Ronald provided the plaque, only marking of the spot wa wooden sign erected by the for Road Board.

There was considerable differ of local opinion as to the loca of the meridian. To make sure the monument was erected on exact spot, the area was survi by the Fiji Lands Department.

Not Too Much Progress,

Thank You

Melbourne newspapers wh< ported that proposals had 1 made to build a runway Lord Howe Island, off Austra east coast, to make it r accessible to tourists, started sc thing. Readers shouted “sacrile and wanted to know why at 1 one island couldn’t be left for people who wanted a quiet holi in peaceful and beautiful * islands” surroundings.

And as a matter of fact, r “real islands” people who have i Lord Howe, which is virtuall suburb of Sydney, would agree in beauty and beaches it does 1< much of the “real islands” stand Lord Howe is probably access enough as it is. Those who wan “improve” it, might well be f

on their own petard.

FK.