NEW HEBRIDES COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 21

NEW HEBRIDES COMMISSION.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, April 29. The following official report of the visit of the members of the New Hebrides Commission to that group has been released and ehould interest everybody in the Dominions: "The commission was formally opened at the office of the British Resident Commissioner at 10 a.m. on April 7. Subsequently the commission sat continuously from the 7th to the 17th, and for the purpose of their investigation visited Bushmans Bay, Malekula, Tangoa Island, Hog Harbour (Santo), returning to Vila on April 16. On April 18, H.M.S. Diomede left Vila for Suva, visiting the Island of Tanna en route, where other British settlers were interviewed. A visit was paid to the volcano that has been in eruption by some of the officers of the Diomede. On Saturday, April 9, the British , Resident gave a garden party at the Residency to "meet" the commission, at which British and French officials and residents attended in large numbers. Official dinners were given to the commission by the Commodore of the Diomede and the British Commissioner. Visits were paid to the plantations belonging to the Metaven Plantations, Ltd., Mr. E. A. Corlette, and Mr. T. Thomas, on Malekula and Santo, for the purpose of seeing local conditions and of inspecting the native labour. At Hog Harbour an interesting journey was made three miles into the interior to visit a village. belonging to the bush tribes, which have not yet emerged from a primitive stage. Happily there were no fatalities, and the members have arrived home safely. ,.