IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15242, 7 January 1943, Page 4

IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

ISLAND LIFE. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.). A South Pacific Base, Dec 14. What the New Zealand soldier thinks of life depends largely upon the part of the island in which ho is stationed. Probably the most constant of living conditions is the climate, which for these latitudes is surprisingly good. The afternoons in (particular are hot, but still free from the overbearing muginess of more tropical islands in the Pacific, and the nights are cool. In many parts of the country there is nothing that marks it as tropical beyond occasional clumps ol bamboo and coconut palms and the crimson glow of hibiscus and flame trees. Shingle streams flow through greenish-brown valleys occupied by occasional dairy farms, and flanked by the steep, rugged hills that ar© the dominating feature of the island. Around many a turn in the winding roads is a view strongly reminiscent of parts of Hawkes Bay or North Auckland. The bush in these more temperate areas is mainly a variety of eucalyptus tree, stunted and sparse. In other parts ©f the island, however, it turns suddenly to vine-choked jungle. The New Zealanders live under canvas, many of them close to streams with excellent natural swimming holes. Fly-proofed mess huts are being built on the native pattern with roofs covered with the thick, paper-like bark that strips easily from the eucalyptus trees, and with partly open walls. They are an ideal form of hot weather building. Civilian population is spread very thinly through the island. Small villages are situated many miles.apart along the main highways—some of them semi-European in style, others the thatched huts of the original stalwart, fuzz-headed natives. Here and there an old mission station forms a landmark It should be relatively easy to keep healthy here. Water for drinking is purified by mobile equipment, and the island is free from malaria. There ar© flies and mosquitoes in varying volume, but both ere being controlled.