Yesterday

What was happening in the

South Pacific 20 years ago this

month? Here are some extracts

from PIM of August, 1942:

The war continued on all fronts.

In the Solomons there was a great battle for the possession of Tulagi with powerful American and Aus tralian naval and air forces en gaged. The attack by the Allies had begun on August 7. * * * Fiji was suffering “great incon venience” at the shortage of silver coins due to the demands of troops. Banks would allow cus tomers to draw r only £2 worth at a time, and some traders were using postage stamps in lieu of small change. In June the Govern ment eased the problem by print ing notes of 1/- and 2/- denomina tions —which were legal tender up to £2. The build-up of the defence forces in Fiji had also created a labour shortage. ♦ ♦ ♦ This issue had two columns on the last hours of Burns Philp’s 4,500-ton “Macdhui,” sunk by Japanese bombing in Port Moresby harbour on June 18, with the death of 10. The ship was hit on two successive days. The bones of the “Macdhui” can still be seen in the harbour 20 years later. * * * Three deaths of people of in terest in the Pacific were reported.

In Tahiti the death had occurred of Punuarii Tale, who was of the royal blood of Opoa and was a direct descendant of Tautu, para mount High Chief of Tahaa; in Rarotonga of Mrs. Betty Morel, of Vaitu Plantation, who had not left her plantation for over 20 years, except once to sign a renewal of her lease. Captain William Hamil ton Cuthbert died in Suva at the age of 88. He had gone to Fiji 73 years previously. * * * Fiji’s new Governor Major General Sir Philip Mitchell took up his post in mid-July, succeeding Sir Harry Luke. • * * Pitcairn Postmaster. R. P. Clark, reported a near-tragedy during a stormy night after the boats had come back from meeting a steamer. One boat capsized on the rocks: Curtis Christian had one of his legs broken in two places, two men were nearly drowned, and another had an in jured hip. • * • In New Caledonia, because of the enormous increase in road accidents, it was necessary for the American Headquarters there to issue urgent warnings to civilians, particularly those who rode bikes, to stay clear of Allied vehicles.