Nutshell

In A Nutshell

1%/f. MARC BIROS, the new Freno ITA High Commissioner in tH Pacific, arrived in Noumea on Januai 9, by air from France. M. Biros hi already served some years in Ne; Caledonia as Secretary-General. F has had a distinguished career in tH French colonial service—more tha 20 years being spent in Indo-China.

Noumea newspapers have ei pressed the hope that with the in stallation of the new High CommiJ sioner political conflict will end M Biros having made many frieno among all classes when formerly ii New Caledonia. The very mentioc of such a hope implied that ttr former High Commissioner, M Pechoux, was incapable of inspirinr political peace.

It is hoped that M. Biros has brought news from France as to whs measures are likely to be taken be the French metropolitan governmeni to ease the New Caledonian recession * * * The Hanuabada region of Pon Moresby was gazetted in January ai a compulsory education area for al children born in 1957. This is th-c first area of P-NG where education has been made compulsory.

Hanuabada is the largest Papuar residential area in Port Additional sections of Port Moresby and other towns are being considered: for early gazettal as compulsory education areas for children born in the same year. * * * The last Governor of Netherlands!

New Guinea, Dr. P. J. Platted, ha«i been appointed Mayor of Ede in the western part of Holland’s province ofi Guelderland. Mayoral appointments! are made by the Crown for six years? * * * Fifty-five blocks of land, ranging from 25 to 900 acres, were to be advertised in P-NG in January asj available for European and native farmers. The land is in the Abam Sub-district, Papua south coast. M Lands Department Officer, Mr. A.i Finn, said there was a percentage oft< unusable land in the big blocks butn

iey contained areas of good soil hich would grow rubber and coffee. * * * The Walla Island Company’s unch MV Judy became a total loss hen it was wrecked on the coast : Malo, New Hebrides, on Christ as Eve. The launch left Santo with I people on board, and the engine oke down between Malo and [alekula. The Judy drifted back to ards Malo and was wrecked on the ef at Malo Kilikili. All passengers ere saved. * * * Three P-NG Cadet Patrol Officers -Ken Grigg, Tony Wright, and ;ter Colton —during the New Year didays climbed Papua’s highest ountain, Mt. Giluwe, and planted flag on its peak. Mount Giluwe, ;ar Mendi, is 13,660 ft. ♦ * * P-NG native nurses in 1964 will s trained to full international andards, with international quali :ations, at the College for Nursing, hich is part of the Papuan Medical allege in Port Moresby. * * * Contract for the erection of a alice Training College at Port oresby has been let to John Stubbs id Sons (Papua) Ltd., for £107,573. he college, designed by the Com onwealth Department of Works, ill be built of concrete blocks and expected to be finished by No :mber. * * * Mr. Ivor Bowden, the new Aus alian Consul in New Caledonia, has ken up his duties in Noumea. His •st official function was a reception the Consulate on the occasion of ustralia Day. * * ♦ The New Britain Electric Shipping o. Ltd. will carry a “substantial ss” following the loss of its 113-ton otor vessel Inaha, according to one : the firm’s four principals, Mr. Ted venell.

The Inaha sank off Cape Lambert, ew Britain, about midnight on inuary 19. Her crew—four Euro- Jans and 12 natives—was rescued iharmed. Two of the natives were eked up by a rescue ship after eight 3urs afloat in lifejackets. The other en came ashore in a surf boat on ic New Britain coast after drifting id rowing for nearly 10 hours. * * * The Indonesian airline Garuda, lade its first flight to Lae on January 7, taking over the fortnightly service om Hollandia formerly conducted y the Dutch KLM subsidiary, 5 Kroonduif.