The Editors' Mailbag

The verses came to us in the form in which they were published, ex cept that there was substitution of a few milder words for words not so mild, and some slight re-phras ing, where the sentiments expressed were some w h at too hearty.

Naturally, we assumed they came from Mr. Pasley, whose name was there, and who has some reputation as a writer of frolicsome verse.

We now announce that Mr. Pasley was not responsible for the verses —and we do not know the name of the writer, nor who sent the rhymed sentiments to us in Mr. Pasley’s name. We apologise to Mr. Pasley for any annoyance unintentionally caused him. Mr. Pasley has taken it in good part, and has given the money sent him for the “contribu tion” to a local charity.

Two days after the above was written, we had a call from “Ted”

Bishton, who pioneered the New Guinea goldfields “35 years ago for Amalgamated Wireless, and now retired.

He has seen the “Browned Off” verses in October PIM, and he brought in a Christmas card, printed for him in New Guinea over 20 years ago—and, believe it or not, there were the “Browned Off” verses, in the form in which they came to us in mid-1960. But on Ted’s card, Mr. Pasley is not shown as putative father.

The mystery of their origin is deeper than ever Ted Bishton cannot remember the author —but Mr. Pasley’s alibi now is final and complete.

An Old TNG Friend

Sydney newspapers have been running stories about the Black town (NSW) Shire Council getting a “mosquito-killer fish” from the Zambesi River area in Africa, and described as somewhat of a novelty to Australians, writes Gordon Thomas. He goes on; This little cove— Gambusia affinis —is well known in TNG by the pre-War folk at any rate. They were first introduced in Rabaul by Dr. (now Sir Raphael) Cilento about 1926 when he was PMO. They proved successful and stocks were kept by the Department of Agri culture at Didiman’s for supply to planters who might care to intro duce them on their estates for the eradication of the mossie.

Of course, in those days they had neither the idea nor the money to spray every building as they are doing now in “Malaria Control Areas”.

There must be lashings of th mossie-predators in New Guin So why send all the way to Afr for them?

Nice to See

Those Trees Again

Stuart Inder’s photograph!

Kieta Harbour on p. 59 of the Si tember issue was of special intei to Dr. C. M. Deland, of Goodwo South Australia. The jacaranda a poinciana trees seen prominently the foreground were planted by Deland in 1933.

He writes: “The road around bay from Chinatown to the nat hospital was edged with huge indiarubber trees ( Ficus elastu which were a harbour for all sc of vermin. I had them pulled 1 and replaced them with the flow ing trees. I saw them in flower wt we passed through in Noveml 1941, just before Pearl Harbo They were then quite young. It good to see them now this size a I hope the rows are still compk There were not many shots fired Kieta itself as far as I know’. I anyone a colour photo of them?'

Memories of That

Story of a Bottle

The “Story of a Bottle” —descq tion of an incident in Levuka ofl or more years ago—seems to h£ aroused nostalgic memories amd old Kai Viti. It was published! page 79 of November PIM.

The story originally was toldj doggerel verse by a resident!

Levuka, and was printed I pamphlet form at the office of I Western Pacific Herald. No less tli two copies of this ancient docurrl have been sent to the editors!

PlM —with a strict warning tl they must be returned.

The rhymed version differs son what in detail from that in Noveml PIM; but the story is substantia the same. Memory of the incidt unquestionably was kept alive I this set of verses.

In one version the poet is shoi as “Roger Barns of Suva”, and! dedicates the composition to “i friend, Frank A Reade, of Doc Udu Point”.

However, Mr. J. D. Whitconß of Auckland, writes: “The poem was written by ft Milton Craig, who gave me a co of it. It was a work of art. U fortunately, I gave it to a frif in Tonga and haven’t got it no but the chief figure was Ra

nie 44’—who was the police ant, the 44 being the number on his tunic. think it all happened about or 1902. At the time I was a attending the Levuka Public il and living at Crocker’s ling House on the waterfront.”

History of Pacific

motives

nds locomotives have chuffed :he picture again with a note Mr. Peter Hodge, of 92 North- Road, Wellington, W 2, NZ, says he supports the PIM : who suggested in Editors’ ag, October, 1960, that loco es were used by the CSR in ang before 1924. The year 1924 i mention because somebody suggested Vanikoro, in the ions, was the first to use loco es in the Pacific, about 1924. fer, Papua had them before Hodge gives us a potted y of the early locomotives in it least three of them having built during the 1880’s. He ues: 1924, when the Kauri Timber my, Vanikoro, began using atives, the CSR Company em [ at least 40 engines on their r ays in Fiji, and I think it is a award them the honour of the first to use locomotives in »uth Pacific. One or two other sugar companies used tram ibout the turn of the century, tere is no evidence that they yed locomotives, we include the islands of the Pacific in the list of entrants Hawaii has a very strong The Kahului Railroad on first used steam locomotives 9. is unfortunate that Pacific s’ railways, which were r numerous nor extensive but tost interesting, are very poorly ented. Another New Zea , Mr. P. F. Dyer, and I are to partly remedy this state ting a book about the railways i. dng three years’ residence in I studied and photographed lines whenever I could. We •eceived considerable assist rom the CSR Company. Un ately there are still many s which are not clear. Records ? Fijian railways are com ply sketchy. Many have been fed or have disappeared. If IM readers have written or al records of the railways of r other Pacific Islands rail- I would like to hear from i railways of the South Pacific )uted greatly to the develop of the places they served. I hat readers who know some of these lines of character lare their recollections with st of us.”