Mr. M. Bernacchi

Retires From

Geic

After nine eventful years as Resi dent Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, Mr. M. L.

Bernacchi, CMG, OBE, departed Colony headquarters on October 24 to proceed to New Zealand via Ocean Island on pre-retirement leave.

AT an informal ceremony on Bairiki, before a large gather ing of senior staff, His Honour and Mrs. Bernacchi were presented with a silver salver on behalf of all the officers of the Colony, those in the WPHC and those in other territories who had asked to be associated with the gift.

The Wholesale Society manager, at the same time, presented a silver tea service on behalf of his staff. These ceremonies were the culmination of several weeks of private and public functions to say farewell to two people who have made themselves the mainspring of life in the small Colony over the last decade.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernacchi both re corded messages before they were taken out to the Moana Raoi on a decorated barge crowded with choirs singing songs composed especially for the occasion.

Mr. R. Davies is Acting Resident Commissioner.

Mr. Peter Plowman, MLA, a well known resident of Apia, West Samoa, is reported to be planning to publish a newspaper article soon giving a new slant on the Joyita mystery of 1955. Mr. Plowman helped at pre liminary inquiries into the tragedy.

Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Bernacchi.