ISLAND AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1931, Page 8

ISLAND AFFAIRS

AUSTRALIAN COINS. SUVA, March IS. Action taken suddenly by two local banks created a considerable stir in Suva. Someone on board a steamei hound for America had a large sum in Australian silver currency, and when lie rea< lied Suva negotiations were puc in train to 'dispose ot the com. If was finally purchased by a local company as a speculation. Without- any notice the two local hanks reluscd i.o non fit any deposits ot Australian silver ovei the value of (J2 from any one depositor. At once there was a great hubbub. The hawkers relused to accept Australian silver, the motor ear drivels followed suit and some ol the shops did the same.

For two days there was considerable confusion. Then a gazette' notice was published, announcing the prohibition of the importation of any Australian silver coinage over the value ol C2 without tlic authority ol the Governor. The official action is stated to fiave been taken at the request of the hanks, wiiie.li are being strongly criticmed. The majority of the Furopean residents are Australian, and one can imagine how the Australian felt when the Chinese vegetable mail refused to take llu* ‘•no-good” money. CONFERENCE AT MANILA. The world leper conference, recently held at Manila, was a gloat, success, according to a letter ju.-.t reeeiie'd from Dr. E. A. Neff, the superintendent of the Makogai leper ,station. I’iji written from .Shanghai. Dr. N'efl -sa\.that he gained more knowledge Irorn the discussions there than he would have thought possible. 4he w hole atmospheie, as far as leprosy was concerned, had bee ll elarifiul now, and •■we all talk the one language.” An .iitcrnatinmil asMieiaCon had been torm-

and a leper journal was to he published. 4 lie members travelled more than 1000 miles in the Philippines and ,aw all their collecting stations ail'd treatment centres. “My paper on the use of dilo oil caused units* a sensarion and all the m< mbers have asked me to send them a sample for trial. “I ain chock lull ol new st u 11. Dilo oil is largely used in the colony for all forms of rheumatism, sprains and such pains. It is sari to he wonderfully efficacious. OCEAN CLP H ENTS. Captains of passing oversea- stenm- ■ a I agree that there are most unusual ocean currents near Fiji. Gaplain McManus, ol I lie Sonoma, said Infouml a 7‘i-mile-per-day current opposit ■ Phoenix group, set ting west.

FUf TKADK. For tln> I'irst two months ol tins yonr the Customs revenue totalled C!I,9M. or tfSSO-l loss tlmii tlm ostium to Import duties totalled S;;d ) vXport duties IX< and port, mid Customs taxes LMOI-. I lie outlook lot the vetir does not promis<. that the estimated income "ill he produced, and a deficit must, result. However, Fiji still has a credit, balance to rely on. A SMUCCLINC CAS It. A .Japanese merchant from Nukualofa named A. V. Man no. was convicted at the Police Court on a charge ol making a wrong declaration "lien jassing his personal luggage. lie arrived hy the Tolua and had to wait, two days in Suva to mi tell the steamer for Sydney, the articles consisted ol silk kimonos, silk stockings and silk shirts, etc., valued in all at. L'lß. He paid a fine of and costs. On a second charge of attempting to bribe a Customs officer he was lound not. guilty and discharged. He went on to Sydney bv the Sonoma.