The Editors' Maillag

An Expedition

For Paradise

Brisbane radiographer R. M.

Taylor is hopeful of forming a group of 30 young married couples, anxious to start from scratch on an island of their own in French Poly nesia.

He wrote to us recently asking for any information we could give him on conditions on Hiva-oa, 23 miles long by 10 miles broad, a fertile island of the Marquesas (it was once called “bloody Hiva-oa” because it resisted the French long after the other islands had been tamed, and was the last stronghold of canni balism, fierce feuds and terrible cus toms). Paul Gauguin is buried on Hiva-oa.

We asked Mr. Taylor for more in formation about his own scheme, and in an informative and pleasant letter he tells us he has taken up with the Government in French Polynesia the matter of getting some land for his settlement scheme— private land, because no crown land is available.

He thinks a group of people, after a few years of solid work, could de rive a reasonably good living from coffee.

He adds, “Strangely enough, the matter is being treated quite seriously by the many people I have discussed it with here in Brisbane. Persons ex perienced in coffee work have offered to teach the group all they can on coffee cultivation and husbandry.

“Two City Council engineers are working on the problem of electricity supply, members of the Royal Aus tralian Army Medical Corps are working on a course of instruction in sanitation and general hygiene for an island community using such de tails as are slowly coming to light on the nature of the island and its health conditions. Several doctors have offered to do the physical on the members of the group when it is formed and while it is being formed, and to advise us on detailed matters of physical fitness maintenance and numerous other important points re lative to the health of the com munity.

“A senior lecturer in the Depart ment of Psychology at the Univer sity of Queensland has offered to arrange testing of the individuals volunteering to join the group and of the group itself to make sure that it will work successfully as a group under the conditions it will have to

meet. After all, if the environnn satisfactory the only other thira can go wrong lies in the psyck of the members—their attitudes lives, intelligence and so on.

“The general scheme is to lish the exact nature of the err ment in every possible detail then to pick people who will! factorily fit into such an en ment.”

Mr. Taylor says that if he g far as selecting a party, married couples aged between i 22-26 will probably be best.

History seems to show thatf expeditions into paradise neves out as planned. But we wish grapher Taylor luck, and leave that.

Where Is The Early

Mining History?

Pacific Island Mines Limitd Papua, who are especially intd in gold on Misima, Eastern at the moment, have joined the seekers after Pacific inform Company secretary Johu S. W writes to say they are hopeful! body may be able to turn ir records of some of these H companies which at one time op< in the Misima and Sudest areas?, want the information to helpq in their own operations.

Mr. Willcox adds, “In pam we want information, including! pectuses, reports to sharehrl technical reports, plans, etc., following companies: MLI Block 10 Misima Gold Mine:s 1914-22; Gold Mines of Papu:r 1935-40; Misima North Ltd.,, 39. SUDEST; Any informatid companies that worked there World War I, and on Loo Gold NL.

“We are prepared to pay a t able price for any informationn may be forthcoming.”

Anybody who can help the ; of progress—and be paid fo' should send their material note but to the secretary of Pacifica Mines, 117 Pitt Street, Sydney* Mr. I. A. Henry, 75 Tauhinuj Miramar, Wellington, E 4, is 1 for early history of the Union n Ship service to Fiji, Tonga and I The earliest records don’t seerm available. Can anybody helpl