Pacific islands monthly : PIM

Call Number
N 919 PAC
Created/Published
[Sydney : Pacific Publications, 1931-2000
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 4 (Nov. 20, 1930)
Images
12
View Catalogue

Contents

THE Pacific islands Monthly 1
PEST FROM JAVA Definite Threat to N.G. Coconuts NEED FOR QUICK ACTION 1
Advertising 1
Mr. C. B. Higginson DEATH IN PAPUA His Good Service As Magistrate 1
NEW SHIPPING SERVICE Rabaul to Hongkong E. & A. A. Line Alters Itinerary 1
HOTEL FOR NORFOLK ISLAND To Stimulate Tourist Traffic LIQUOR SYSTEM CRITICISED 1
Hymen at Thursday Island 1
Scientists on Niuafoou Island 1
RE-ARRANGEMENT OF NORTHERN STEAMER SERVICES DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES Plea for Reduced Fares and Co-ordination of Inter-Island Schedules 1 , 2
Advertising 2
ELECTRICITY SCHEME FOR RABAUL Installation by Sydney Firm 2
WEDDING AT RABAUL 2
In Western Samoa Condition of the Planting Industry 2
CALLOUS CRIME By a New Guinea Cook-Boy PLANTATION MANAGER MURDERED 2
AMONG THE MISSIONS 2
Advertising 2
PAPUAN NEWS 3
MALARIA’S AFTER-EFFECTS 3
KAVA AND THE MAJOR A Memory of Sunny Nukualofa 3
Advertising 3
The Svaap Safe 4
Advertising 4
Fishing Industry FACTS FROM THURSDAY ISLAND Curing Sardines in Torres Straits 4
GETTING T.I.’s GOAT A Claim Now Justified 4
Solomon Islands Government Finance—Who Are Getting Benefit of Low Copra Prices ? 4
Bishop of North Solomons Consecration of Rev. Dr. Wade 4
Thursday Is. Topics ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR TOWN 4
COPRA TRADE Interesting Figures Show Distribution 4
Breaking the Slump Some Suggestions From Papua Why Not Reduce Native Wages? 4
THE ECLIPSE AT NIUAFOOU 4
NEW GUINEA NEWS The Breaking of the Drought 5
Answers to Correspondents 5
Advertising 5
Pacific Islands Monthly 6
BURNS PHILP AND THE SHARPSHOOTERS 6
TROPICALITIES 6
DEATH OF HEAD CHIEF OF NAURU 6
Notable Men of The Pacific 6
COM. GOODENOUGH’S BIRTHDAY Fiji May Celebrate Birthday of Colony’s Founder Written for The Pacific Islands Monthly by Rev. T. N. Deller 7
Whale-Oil’s Effect on Copra Prices Significant Figures Shipments Much Less, Yet Market Depressed 7
Greatly Increased Production Of Whale Oil 7
N.I. ADMINISTRATOR Special Visit to Canberra PROTEST AGAINST SALES TAX 7
SOLOMONS GOLD Is There Field in Bougainville? REEF REPORTED NEAR KIETA 7
HOW BANANAS ARE SAVING SAMOA Newly-Developed Industry is Partial Set-off to Copra Slump 7
HIGH CHIEF OF NAURU 7
Personal Notes 7
LABOURERS’ WAGES Move to Reduce Natives Must Share in General Sacrifices 7
GOLD IN PAPUA Discovery by Patrol Officer RICH SPECIMENS FROM WILD COUNTRY 8
THE "OVERTAXED” TONGAN Readers Communicate Their Views Typical Tongan’s Taxes To The Editor 8
Advertising 8
Conditions in the Group To The Editor 8
APIA OBSERVATORY Suspicious Fire Quelled by Chinese Watchman 8
Extend Preference To New Caledonian Produce Value of Reciprocal Trade 8
Altering for the Worse Conduct of Papuans Attitude Towards White Women 8
THREE VESSELS LOST Methodists’ Bad Luck FOUNDERING OF JOHN WESLEY 8
NEW MISSION YACHT FOR VILA 8
MINDS OF NATIVES POISONED New Guinea Opinions PRAISE FOR DISTRICT OFFICERS 9
PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY How To Order Your Copy 9
OUR FIJIAN NEWSLETTER Strictest Economy Being Exercised Government Grant For Air Service Opposed 9
SLOANE’S PROPERTY Mining Engineer to Inspect 9
EDIE CREEK GOLDFIELDS NEWS 9
Advertising 9 , 10
News from Norfolk Island Three Steamers in a Week Boating Company Busy An Elaborate New Store 10
Advertising 10
DUTY ON RUBBER To Save Papuan Planters 4d. PER POUND ON ALL FOREIGN PRODUCTION 10
BUSSELL’S FOOD COMMODITIES 10
Advertising 10
PRODUCTS OF THE SOUTH SEAS The Fluctuating Price of Copra 11
NEW GUINEA-PAPUAN GOLD SHARE MARKET ACTIVITIES OF THE COMPANIES 11
Across New Guinea Surprise Trip by Prospectors Valuable Exploration Work 11
Morris Hedstrom’s Profits Company’s Strong Position 11
Market Quotations Range of Prices 11
Praise for Pacific Islands Monthly 11
Advertising 11
Shipping Services in The Pacific 12
PHOSPHATE TRADE Cabarita Enters Service 12
NEW GUINEA AEROGOLD 12
Advertising 12

Text

THE Pacific islands  

Monthly  

THE ONLY JOURNAL CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND TERRITORIES AND GROUPS  

OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH PACIFIC.  

Vol No  

Registered at G.P.O., Sydney, for  

transmission by Post as Newspaper  

SYDNEY: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1930  

Single Copy, 6d.  

Per Annum, posted, 6/-.  

PEST FROM JAVA  

Definite Threat to N.G.  

Coconuts  

NEED FOR QUICK ACTION  

THE danger of pest, that is  

causing havoc in the coconut  

plantations in Java, finding its way  

into Eastern New Guinea and the  

islands of the Mandated Territory,  

is causing lively concern among  

plantation-owners.  

The pest is small moth, which  

takes possession of the under-side of  

the palm leaves. The leaves presently  

decay and drop off; and the palm be-  

comes useless.  

Not much is known here about the  

pest, how long it has been at work, or  

where it comes from. Coconut plan  

tations in Java are mostly native  

owned, and the industry is not under  

close supervision. It is probable that  

the pest has been known in Java and  

not actually combated for long time.  

But, in recent times, it has assumed  

most serious proportions—and is con  

tributing factor to the fact that only  

6,800 tons of copra were shipped from  

Java in the months to the end of  

August, 1930, as compared with 37,900  

tons shipped in the same period of  

1929. It is reported that nine-tenths  

of the Javanese coconut plantations  

are affected.  

The pest, while somewhat similar in  

its occurrence, is not the Levuana  

moth —which practically wiped out all  

coconut palms in Viti Levu (Fiji) un  

til itself was destroyed in recent time  

by fly imported from Malaya. Ap  

parently, also, the Dutch entomologists  

have found nothing, as yet, to check it.  

From Java to New Guinea is only  

step. Communication between the  

ports of the two territories is main  

tained by the Dutch steamer, which  

runs regular cargo service. If the pest  

is transferable, it would be very easy  

to convey it in cargo from Java to  

Port Moresby or Rabaul.  

The Federal authorities are to be  

urged to make an immediate inquiry,  

and if there is danger, to take imme  

diate steps to guard against the danger.  

The introduction of the pest to the  

New Guinea copra plantations, which  

already are suffering severely from  

the depressed prices, would be nothing  

short of national calamity.  

The danger, if it exists, could be  

averted by little care now. Prompt  

action seems to be demanded.  

Mr. C. B. Higginson  

DEATH IN PAPUA  

His Good Service As Magistrate  

(From Our Own Correspondent.)  

Port Moresby, October 10.  

WORD was received in Port Moresby  

last Saturday, of the death of  

Mr. C. B. Higginson. who died at Ko  

pipi on September 29th, while on his  

way to Popo, where he was employed by  

the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. He was  

another of the fast lessening number  

of old timers in Papua, and had been  

in the Territory for about 25 years,  

twenty of which had been spent in the  

service of the Government.  

Mr. Higginson was almost the last  

of the older Magistrates—those fine  

men who, in the old days, did such  

magnificent work in subduing and  

training, with wisdom and justice, the  

fierce and savage Papuans.  

Mr. Higginson leaves widow and  

three children, who had only just left  

the territory by the last Morinda.  

The news of his death cast gloom  

over Port Moresby. One of his friends  

writes:  

“Good sport, firm friend, fearless offi  

cer and able administrator of justice,  

he will be long missed and remem  

bered in Papua.”  

NEW SHIPPING SERVICE  

Rabaul to Hongkong  

E. A. A. Line Alters Itinerary  

NEW shipping service between  

the Mandated Territory of New  

Guinea and the East will be estab  

lished by the Eastern and Australian  

Steamship Co. Ltd., which has de  

cided to include Rabaul in the itin  

erary of its three Australia-Japan  

liners.  

The Tanda, Nellore and St. Albans  

will call at Rabaul on both the outward  

and homeward journeys.  

The first vessel to run the new time-table  

will be the Tanda, which leaves Yokohama at  

the end of the month for Australian port  

The vessel will load cargo and embark pas  

sengers for Rabaul at Hongkong.  

The service in the other direction will be in  

augurated by the Nellore, leaving Sydney on  

December 13.  

The new itinerary will not lengthen the voy  

age between Australian ports and Japan, ar  

rangements having been made to omit the  

present calls at Cairns, Thursday Island,  

Sandakan, on the northward journey, and San  

dakan, Thursday Island, Cairns and Towns  

ville on the voyage south.  

The journey between Sydney and Hongkong  

will thus actually be shortened, from 23 to 21  

days.  

HOTEL FOR NORFOLK  

ISLAND  

To Stimulate Tourist Traffic  

LIQUOR SYSTEM CRITICISED  

PLANS are afoot for the establish  

ment of first-class residential  

hotel on Norfolk Island.  

An application for liquor license  

was refused some two years ago, but  

petition has been now signed by many  

of the Islanders, asking that such  

license be granted. The petition is be  

ing forwarded to the Minister for Home  

Affairs (Mr. Blakeley) for his con  

sideration.  

Should this request be granted and  

an hotel to cater from 70 to 80 guests  

be built, new era of prosperity may  

dawn on N.I., as it is certain that valu-  

able tourist traffic will follow, and land  

values rise.  

natural result also should be bet  

ter steamer service, not only with Aus  

tralia, but probably with New Zealand,  

thus providing more extensive markets  

for Norfolk Island produce.  

LIQUOR BY PERMIT  

The existing liquor laws of the Island  

have been the subject of adverse criti  

cism. At present permit for liquor  

is only granted to resident if he is  

considered “fit and proper person” by  

the Government Medical Officer, and  

this permit allows him one bottle of  

spirits or six bottles of beer fortnight.  

Only twice week is the liquor dis  

tributed by the Clerk of Court. People  

due for their ration then line up, and  

as many as 60 residents have been in  

the queue.  

An undesirable feature, according to  

recently-returned traveller, is that  

non-drinkers, who are also granted  

permits on application, obtain their ra  

tions, and have no trouble in re-selling  

the liquor at handy profit.  

It is estimated that last year £1,500  

worth of spirituous liquor was imported  

into Norfolk Island.  

Hymen at Thursday Island  

From Our Own Correspondent  

THURSDAY IS., Nov. 12.  

The best wishes of the whole com  

munity were offered to-day to popular  

young couple who were married in the  

Cathedral —Mr. Otter, member of the  

Garrison Artillery, and Miss Byers.  

There was large attendance at the  

wedding breakfast. The bride’s par  

ents are old and highly-esteemed resi  

dents of Thursday Island.  

Scientists on Niuafoou Island  

The largest camera in the world is  

shown in position on Niuafoou Island,  

in the Tongan group, where perfect  

weather conditions permitted very  

successful observation of the total  

eclipse of the sun on October 21. The  

photograph shows the camp of the  

American scientists, who included Pro  

fessor Jagger, of Hawaii; Professor  

Mitchell, and other well-known Ameri  

cans.  

The camera is 65 feet long.  

Niuafoou is an isolated place, ex  

tremely difficult of access, but it was  

the only island in this part of the  

Pacific that was right in the narrow  

track of the complete eclipse.  

RE-ARRANGEMENT OF NORTHERN  

STEAMER SERVICES  

DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES  

Plea for Reduced Fares and Co-ordination of Inter-Island  

Schedules  

By Our Rabaul Correspondent  

In the following article our New Guinea representative discusses the problem  

of the Northern Steamer Services.  

The people of Papua and New Guinea naturally want an ever-improving  

steamer and mail service with Australia.  

Messrs. Burns Philp Co. Ltd, who hold the Australian mail contract, and  

are vitally interested in the growth and development of these territories, (are)  

naturally anxious to give the best possible service. But steamer services must  

be profitably conducted; and the “big firm” is embarrassed by the fact that so  

much trade is being driven away from Australia in direct shipments to Europe  

and America. If that trade were being done with Australia, the B.P. shipping  

lines could be more profitably operated; and, of course, better and more frequent  

service could be given.  

The whole matter is now under consideration by the Commonwealth and  

Territories authorities and the shipping company.  

The subject is dealt with in our leading article on page 6.  

WITH the possibility of the arrival of  

new steamer, now in course of  

construction, in March or April of next  

year, public interest has been aroused  

in the proposed new schedule, and our  

steamer and mail services generally.  

The new vessel is on much the same  

lines as M/v Malabar. It is slightly  

shorter, but has two feet more beam,  

and, being designed for Islands ser  

vice, has shallow draught. The sail  

ing speed is 14 knots. The passenger  

accommodation is quite equal to the  

Malabar, but the appointments are su  

perior. The public rooms and the  

cabins are commodious —a feature that  

will be much appreciated after the  

confined space on the older vessels.  

Messrs. Burns Philp Co. Ltd. evi  

dently appreciate that, as practically  

the whole of the copra from this Ter  

ritory is now shipped by vessels plying  

direct with Europe, they will have to  

rely to greater extent on passenger  

traffic. Cargo from Australia is also  

declining, owing to the competition of  

s.s. Le Maire, bringing cargoes from  

India, Rangoon and Java; and s.s. Bre  

merhaven, bringing through freights  

from Europe, China and Japan.  

TO JOIN SERVICE WITH PAPUA  

One would have thought that new  

and large vessel, taking the place of  

the antiquated Marsina, would have  

been welcomed without question. But,  

as Burns Philp Co. evidently do not  

consider the trade of this Territory  

yet warrants two large vessels engaged  

solely on this service, they propose to  

amalgamate the New Guinea and  

Papuan services, to be undertaken by  

the new vessel and the Montoro.  

The Morinda, now on the Papuan  

run will be transferred to the Norfolk  

Island service.  

Local objection is taken to the in  

corporation of the Papuan service, on  

the grounds that to call at Port Mor  

esby and one (possibly two) North  

Queensland ports will increase the  

length of the journey; and, further,  

that in order to bring in these ports  

and still maintain three-weekly ser  

vice, it will be necessary to omit certain  

minor ports in this Territory.  

Most people travelling from here to  

Australia wish to get to Sydney as  

quickly as possible; they are not in  

terested in Port Moresby or any North  

Queensland ports, and it was thought  

that when new and speedier vessel  

was put on the run the journey would  

be appreciably shortened. As Burns  

Philp Co. base fares on the number  

of days journey occupies, some were  

optimistic enough to hope for reduc  

tion in the present high rates. The  

present run from Rabaul to Sydney,  

calling at Samarai, takes eight days  

(it has been done by the Montoro in  

six and half days).  

It is announced that the new steamer  

will take days for the journey—  

Rabaul-Sydney—and the Montoro 13  

days. It is exceedingly doubtful if  

such schedule could be maintained,  

because, even allowing an average sail  

ing speed of 14 knots, there would be  

only margin of 36 hours for calls at  

five ports; this makes no allowance for  

bad weather or arriving at ports out  

side of official hours. If there are de  

lays, time would have to be made up  

by cutting short the stay in Sydney,  

which would be serious matter for the  

commercial interests. At least seven  

clear days are required at Sydney each  

trip, in order that orders for shipment  

by return vessel may be attended to.  

The only benefit to the travelling  

public will be the advantage of new  

and commodious vessel in place of the  

Marsina, which is exceedingly uncom  

fortable. This Territory will also bene  

fit by being brought into direct commu  

nication with Port Moresby—a factor  

that may be of some importance in the  

future—and with North Queensland  

ports.  

Planters here who wish to purchase  

cattle for their plantations naturally  

look to North Queensland for their  

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)  

MR. C. B. HIGGINSON.  

Leipzig Spring Trade Fair  

1931 (Germany)  

(THE GREATEST TRADE EXHIBITION  

IN THE WORLD)  

Despite the heavy and almost impossible  

Australian Tariff Legislation, Australian  

business men and overseas buyers can  

profitably visit the 1931 Spring Fair  

at Leipzig.  

The Great Spring Fair begins on March  

1st, 1931, incorporating the Great  

Engineering Fair, until March 11th.  

Inquiries invited. All Official Data,  

Transport Concessions, Hotel Accommo-  

dation, Rail Services, Etc., including  

Letters of Introduction, Free of Cost.  

Authorised Representatives:  

LARS C. BRUNDAHL,  

121 Pitt Street Sydney, N.S.W.  

(’Phones 4006, MW 2201);  

C. N. KEPPEL,  

Box 585 D, C.P.O. Melbourne Victoria.  

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{{Citation
  |
  | title=Pacific islands monthly : PIM.
  | year=1931
  | section=v. : illustrations ; 28-42 cm.
  | issn=0030-8722
  | issue=Vol. 1 No. 4 (Nov. 20, 1930)
  | location=[Sydney
  | publisher=Pacific Publications
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-333438901
  | id=nla.obj-333438901
  | access-date=29 January 2025
  | via=Trove
}}

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