NEW HEBRIDES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1921, Page 4

NEW HEBRIDES.

I THE GROUP REVISITED. (By lan Dunlop ill the Sydney Herald). 1 It was a beautiful Sunday morning when the- steamer Makambo, of the Burns, Pliilp tine, steamed into the harbour of Port, Vila, i( nd anchored off . the little island of Irereki, in full view ; of the headquarters of the British Re- ! sident. Port Vila is so named from a ' small island bearing the name Vila. It consists of a large body oi water, between Pango Point and Tukutuk Point, on the south-west of the large island of Elate. Its length from entrance beta cen the two abovementioned points . to the anchorage is about 10 miles, with a width of Itetween four and live miles at the entrance, haying several small islands in the harbour, which afford shelter on their lee sides, during the hurricane season, to many sailing craft.

A visit after an absence ol 18 years afforded many surprises. Alien last seen, in 1902, the number, of residences i of all kinds could be counted on two l bands; now the foreshore, as well as | the hills lying back from the shore, are i studded with many residences, together ! with the official residence of the Coni dominium Government officials, wireless j station, court of justice, post-office, j French hospital, hotels, schools, stores, i churches, and many other less importI ant establishments. Numerous small sailing craft of several nationalities i were lying at anchor awaiting the terminaton of the hurricane season condi-

tions. Being the port of entry for the whole groups of both New Hebrides and Banks Islands, as well as the seat of the Condominium Government, the arrival of the mail steamer from Australia excited much commotion amongst all classes, coloured as well as European. Like all ports, this is no exception in the variety of the population, as it embraces many nationalities. The French predominate, then English speaking, but there are Japanese, Javanese, Tonquinese, Chinese, representatives ®f many islands in the Pacific, in addition to those employed aB labourers in the neighbourhood, and the native popula-

tion. The travelling public are catered for bv both Australian and French Governments having subsidised their respective steamers to carry mails as well as passengers and cargo. In addition to these' regular lines—Burns, Pliilp and Co., and the Messageries Maritime*— four smaller French-owned steamers ply between the islands, New Caledonia amt Sydney. Olio is much impressed—after an interval of years—with the immense areas of land under cultivation. Acre’s of cocoanut trees, numbering tens of thousands—individual plantations having as many as from 30.000 to 50,000- —from the deck of the steamer form a picture which leaves an indelible impression. Maize is grown in considerable quantities, also cocoa and copra, whilst col-' ton, for which there has been a great demand in recent years, is cultivated on a verv large scale, both by natives and white settlers. For this last product the re is practically no shipping accommodation provided by tin Australian steamers, so that instead ot roaehmg Australia it is taken up by French steamers, conveyed to Noumea in New Caledonia, where, alter it is "ginned and haled it is shipped to I’ranee. V by this should lie so is difficult to explain, but the fact remains, ami it might he well if the Australian Chambers of Commerce made some inquiries into tin* matter. It represents a growing industry which is being alienated from Australia and allowed to fall into the hands of the French without challenge. Then one was impressed also with the new type of settlers. I he day ol the beachcomber has gone, togeffior with that of the class of men whose only concern was to eke out a precarious existence by making a few tons of copra each vear. Those new scttiei s ate, many of them, such as take pleasure in their business —steady, intelligent men, with their wives and families in many cases, whose plantations are a thing of bruins, calling forth praise and ■admiration from visitors. In the old days the domestic supplies of milk and tresh meat were largely met from one s flock of ooats : to-day every planter and missionary is supplied from mobs of cattle in ever.v-i ncroasing numbers. The spirit ol hospitality is still on a generous scale. To no one was it ever denied in the old days, whether beachcomber or his Majesty’s representative, for at times strange guests sat down at one’s table; now, in these days o! travel, when as many as 25 passengers will go ashore at a mission station or a planter’s establishment to have a look round, they will ho surprised to find thems'dvos in due course seated as guests at a well-laden table, with everything that is likely to tempt the most fastidious appetite ol the worst traveller by sea. Decrease of the native population continues throughout the entire group, hut especially amongst those who continue to follow their native practices, such as child marriages, infanticide*, polvgamv, polyandry, witchcraft, liquor drinking, and other objectionable orgies. It is regrettable that there are Europeans who encourage many ol these practices, men who, though they undoubtedly know better, have lost sight of life’s highest ideal. There are villages in which but few women remain and no children. On the other hand, there are villages in which tho native practices have t-een abandoned for a period of 20 years and more, where four and five c.uldren are to he found in a family. One woman to whom 1 spoke was nursing her tenth child. One little island, named Mele, in the j harbour of Vila, carries a population of i some 260 persons, the major portion being eomiHised of young people, vigorous and healthy. But here the natives have long since abandoned their heathen practices for Christianity. 'Phe work of the missionary societies showed some regrettable changes. That of the Presbyterian Church, which has been operating for some 82 years, has suffered much through a depleted staff, and to-day there are but ten men doing the work which 18 years ago was being done hv 24. The Melanesia,n Mission —Church of England—is suffering in like manner, yet both are doing the best possible to meet the situation, being hopeful of brighter days. It was a statesmanlike act which brought about the establishment of a central hospital in the port of entry, on the islet of Tririki, where patients

are received of every nationality and , colour. Essentially and primarily a J mission hospital,-it opens its wards to any whose condition calls for trie best medical or surgical skill, and the fact . that the wards are never empty is a, guarantee of its usefulness. Dr T. Hoggarth, who was superintendent up till the end of 1920, has been succeeded , by Dr Vernon Davies, M.D. Both men are Melbourne graduates, who took first places in their examinations. In my conversation with both British and French residents, there is only one opinion concerning the place that, hospital is filling in the group. The nursing department is ably filled by three fully qualfiied nurses of the R V.T.N.A. Perhaps in the near future and now that the number of planters is on the increase in the northern part of the group, it may be possible to set up a similar hospital, on lines as broad and with a mission as far-reaching to the native as well as the European population.

The change which internationally is of the greatest importance is that of the “Condominium Government” Having replaced that of the “dual control, which after trial was found wanting. The same verdict,it is feared, must he given in regard to the “Condominium,” for on all hands it has been voted a -jgnal failure in its methods of administration. The ideal set up for it has not been attained, nor is it likely to he -o long as there is no insistence upon the observace of its regulations. The British planter who desires to he loyal is severely handicapped by the strict letter, since it makes demands upon him which it cannot enforce upon tho

French planter, who claims that his supreme authority is not that of the Condominium but France, thereby micating that Paris allows what the local • uthority would prohibit. Any system : f Government, which does not consider Ihe rights of the native races or seek to deal with flagrant wrongs that are - ailing for justice, ought to he replaced !>v something better, which will make or a standard of equity in which both uitives and Europeans shall be able to '•oiii hands with a feeling of security Jiat nothing will shake.

IT'S A MISTAKE. Many people in a misguided effort to j;et rid of backache, rely on plasters, iniments and other make shifts. The :ight treatment is kidney treatment. :nd a remarkably recommended kidney medicine is Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills. The following is an experience typical of the work of this grand remedy:— -Mr A. Wisdom, Carpenter, Cobden, ireymouth says:—“l have used Doan’s Backache Kidney I’ills for backache for mine time, and J find them an excelent remedy. For a number of years I have been subject to pains about the .idneys, but my sufferings were increasd by an accident. By taking this remedy now and again I have been free f backache for the past two years. T )bt; ined Doan’s Backache Kidney Pill* it Williams’ Pharmacy, and recomucnd them to all who suffer with bark■chc.” Sixteen years later Mr Wisdom says: ! have still the same great faith in Doan’s Backache Kidney I’ills. They rep me free from tlie torture of backche, and 1 van get about in ease and oinfort.” Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills are old by all chemists and storekeepers >t Ms per bottle, or will bo posted on rooipt of price by Foster-McClellan Co., a Hamilton Si root, Sydney. But, lie sure you get DOAN’S.