Wagina For

New Life On

Geic People

From a Special Correspondent The last of the population of Tull and Gardner Islands in the Irought-stricken Phoenix Grouo >f the Gilbert and Ellice Islands rolony will settle into their new lome in the Solomons in

: ebruary.

rHEY were to leave their islands in the Tonga Copra Board’s latest essel, the MV Niuvakai, in January.

Tie 2,200-ton Niuvakai was chartered y the GEIC Government to make lie move to Wagina Island in the hortland group of the Solomons.

The Tongan vessel moved the first alf of the population of the two ilands in late November—early De ember.

Captain G. Douglas, GEIC Marine uperintendent, accompanied the rst wave to see that all went well, nd the second sailing was to be ccompanied by Mr. W. F. Newton.

The village site clearing in the ense forest of Wagina looked tiny rom seaward when the first wave rrived and some of the Phoenix slanders on Niuvakai must have 'ondered what they were coming to. >nce ashore, however, they found rat there was enough room for every amily to build its own home.

In the meantime everyone is living in “long houses”, but the first lot of settlers have to build their own houses in time to move out of the long houses before the second wave arrived. After enough houses are ready, families will have to start clearing more bush for their gardens.

It is going to be really hard work.

Although the Phoenix Islands have had fair rain over the last few months, and a few trees are starting to produce nuts again, the fact re mains that a high proportion of the trees have died completely, and there is no doubt that the settlers can now look forward to a much better life in their new home.

The embarkation of the settlers went off well, in excellent weather.

Vast quantities of timber and gal vanised roofing, collected over the years, were included in the hold baggage, and some very mysterious objects which could have been any thing from catalytic cracking units to artificial satellites, as well as large cooking pots with holes, were loaded.

Over 40 canoes were stacked in the hold on top of all this loot. The passengers themselves occupied the after tween decks (well ventilated with powerful blower and exhaust fans) with about a third on the hatch cover itself under a good awning.

Embarkation took almost 2\ days at Hull and one day at Gardner, while discharge was completed in two days at Wagina.

Good weather accompanied the whole exercise and everyone enjoyed the trip—including Nei Niuvakai, who was bom on the voyage!

the Vila Aero Club's Super Emeraude may be a complete write off following its dive into Vila Harbour after colliding with power lines between [?]ririki Island and the [?]ainland on Decem ber 24. The plane seen above just after he accident) was [?]oiloted by Mr. Philip Delacroix and was [?]arrying Mr. Claude Nitride as a passen [?]er. Both men were licked up unhurt by [?] Burns Philp launch, [?]hich towed the [?]lane to Iririki [?]here it was leached. -Photos: Reece Discombe.