Money Prospects For Tongan Castaways

Tongan Castaways

“Minerva Reef”, Olaf Ruhen's dramatic story of the Tongan cast aways’ experiences on Minerva Reef, last year, is being prepared by Angus and Robertson Ltd., of Sydney, for publication in August. It is likely to be a very successful book.

THE American rights to the story have been sold in New York, and American publication is ex pected before the end of the year.

It is considered likely that an offer for the film rights will be made, probably by the Americans.

Under the arrangement made in October between the Fiji Times & Herald Ltd. and the 12 Tongans who survived the reef drama, all profits from this book, after the pay ment of author’s fees and adminis trative and promotional costs, will go to the Tongans.

The Tongans were fortunate in that the executive director of Fiji Times and Herald Ltd., Mr. L. G.

Usher, quickly saw the possibilities of their extraordinary story, and acted very quickly to secure for them the full benefits possible; and lucky also in that The Fiji Times’ Sydney representatives were able to secure the services of a writer of Olaf Ruhen’s calibre, so that none of the drama of the great story would be lost in its presentation. Five men lost their lives in the shipwreck.

The cash will not begin to reach the Tongans in perceptible volume until late in this year. Thenceforward, their reward could be substantial if present hopes are justified.

On an unofficial world tour is Prince Tuipelehake, of Tonga, and his wife, Princess Melenaite. He is pictured in Honolulu with the President of Matson Lines, Stanley Powell, Jr. (left), and British Consul W. H. M. Hindle. The Prince was later given a warm welcome in San Francisco and New York.