Dumbea Mayor returns with a leap!

Caledonian Mayor, Maurice Gane (formerly a planter out of Vila, New Hebrides), has made a spectacular return to his post of Mayor, after strife led to the dissolution of his Municipal Council and the staging of new elections.

After serving for 2i years as Mayor of Dumbea, 15 miles from Noumea, Mr. Gane found his council meetings were becoming unworkable, after changes of loyalty among the members. Local authorities thus had to take the step of asking for a council dissolu tion—which required the consent of the Pans government.

This consent granted, the date of the new election was set for January 11, with two factions of Dumbea residents Cale donian v. Metropolitan French lists) campaigning for contro With a renewed team of supporters, Mr. Gane was returned, by 136 votes l ° In the meantime, a downtown newspaper critic had denounced Mr Gane for “trying to sneak back through the window, after being kicked out the door”. Thus to celebrate his victory and register dis dain for his critics. Maurice Gane re-entered the Dumbea Town Hall by a flying leap through the window—much to the delight of his supporters.