WANGANUI REUNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 7, 10 January 1944, Page 4

WANGANUI REUNION

PLANNED ON PACIFIC ISLAND TROPICAL “PARADISE.” (Special to “Cronicle"—by R.W.0.) In the Solomons, Dec. 18. It is a week from Christmas and more than ever the boys' thoughts are turning to New Zealand ana home, seemingly so far away. With no operations on at thg present, the troops have improved their bivouac areas and are determined to make themselves as comfortable as possible for the coming festive season. Wnen I walKed down the beach last night I was attracted by the sound oi distant singing. As I drew close I saw a number of New Zealanders sitting beneath a picturesque group of palms, among them several Wanganui men. For once they were not singing the usual popular numbers, their songs were old Christmas carols bringing back memories of other times and other scenes when war was very far away from us. A lot has been said and written about "tropical paradises" and tne fact that I have mentioned palms and singing may lead people to imagine that this is one of them. This island on which the New Zealanders were in action a few weeks ago is typical of the hundreds that dot me wiue Pacific in this part of the world. For the most part densely jungled, it is sui rounded by a ring or coral reef about 200 yards from the shore which usually is a beach of dazzling white coral sand. At one part of tne island is a large coconut plantation which before the war supplied a bountiful yield of copra and fibre. There are a fair number of rivers ranging in size up to about a chain across and despite numerous stories of alligators having been seen in them, all are popular swimming places lor New Zealanders. Places orf-shore that are free of coral also attract quite a few swimmers, but under the blazing sun the water becomes so hot (yes, hot) that it is really much more refreshing to swim in the fresh water. The climate is hot and humid, th* temperature usually reading between 85 and 95 degrees during the day, sometimes rising to more than 100 degrees in the tents. We had one “cold" day last week when the temperature hovered around 80 degrees, which would be a record hot day for Wanganui. It is surprisingly cold in the early morning and there have been times when I have felt that my one blanket is inadequate. As Pacific islands go this one is not pretty, the jungle being too dense, the fauna singularly unattractive, and the climate stifling At the same time it has many aspects of charm that have been fully appreciated by the New Zealanders. At present the moon is full and as I walked down the coast road last night she seemed unusually mellow and magnificent hanging in the velvet tropic sky. There were many men lounging on the shore, smoking, singing, talking, taking in the beauty of the long lane of silver sheen on the calm ocean, and the stateliness of the fringing palms and the distant shadow of other islands of the group. This is the season of heaviest rainfall and tropical deluges drop from the sky with practically no warning. Sometimes it rains for several days, reducing unformed road* and tracks to a quagmire that is the despair of every transport driver. Coastal roads on the island have been properly surveyed by engineer units, are excel lently formed and are surfaced witn coral sand tha- packs hard. The natives a shy. happy poeple with a high moral code, moved to new villages inland when the Japanese occupied this island last year. They have proved invaluable in the Allies cause, cheerfullv carrying out sucn tasks as reconnaissance, scouting, message-running, hut-building and general labouring work. In return they receive a form of credit that permits them to purchase from an Army trading centre blankets, knives, cloth and similar commodities. The New Zealanders have always respected the natives’ rights and a strong feeling ol friendship exists between them and us. If circumstances permit it is intended to hold a Wanganui men's reunion in the near future.