Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology
Preface
Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology 1929–1946 by Allan Cornish
History of Major Meteorological Installation in Australia from 1945 to 1981 by Reg Stout
Four Years in the RAAF Meteorological Service by Keith Swan
The Bureau of Meteorology in Papua New Guinea in the 1950s by Col Glendinning
Foreword
Introduction
Brief History and Geography
Station Operations
Air Transport
The Port Moresby Office
Housing for Bureau Staff, Port Moresby
Staff Members and Their Families
Local Transport
Education
Entertaining, Sport and Lifestyle
Shopping Facilities
Malaria
Native Servants
Communication with Native Servants
Meteorology
Forecasting Problems in Port Moresby
Other Comments
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Communication with Native Servants
Most of the servants in Met row, Port Moresby, were New Guinea 'boys', and they were 'one talks', so pidgin was used. The local natives used the Motu language or police Motu, but pidgin, despite other efforts, seemed to be gaining in use.Many amusing incidents concerning the use of pidgin were related and published. One newly arrived public servant ordered his house boy to move 'bokis bilong missis' to another room. The European could not understand why the houseboy looked astonished and disappeared so quickly.
A useful guide to newcomers to the Territory was available: price, two shillings. It was published as an assistance to the newly arrived housewife or business girl. Women were advised not to appear before a houseboy in night attire, brief upper or lower garments or underclothing. One newly arrived young housewife obviously did not heed this advice when she appeared in a state of dress now described as topless when answering a knock at the door. The caller, a Department of Works tradesman, was astounded when the young matron remarked, 'Oh! I am sorry, I thought you were the houseboy'.
People in Bright Sparcs - Glendinning, Colin (Col)
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
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