(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

Jungle nights in B.G
(The Daily Chronicle: April 10, 1934)
THE LURE of gold is taking Britain’s youngest Member of Parliament and his wife — a Woolworth heiress and noted beauty — to the wild jungles of B.G. writes a ‘Daily Express’ Special Representative.
They left Southampton yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. J. Roland Robinson, in the White Star Liner, the  Olympic.
With them are Mr. and Mrs. E.G.H. Forsyth. Speed is their watchword.
When they get to New York today, they will take the plane for a four-day flight to Georgetown.
They are seeking a new Eldorado.
Mr. Roland Robinson (who is M.P. for Widness, Lancashire) is a director of a company interested in gold. Alluvial gold has been found in great quantities in the rivers of Guiana.
At Georgetown, Mr. Roland Robertson will make final arrangements with the Governor for dredging concessions.
Then the party will leave for a long trek in the jungle.
The women will discard the soft loveliness of civilized clothing for coarse breeches and boots.
They will sleep at nights in hummocks strung between trees. Netting will protect them from fever-carrying mosquitoes.
The reward, it is hoped, will be gold. And perhaps adventure.

Woman’s place
(The Daily Chronicle: April 11, 1934)
‘THAT woman’s place is in the home’ will be the subject of a debate tomorrow night among members of the St. Cuthbert Young People’s Society Queenstown.
Messrs. C.E.R. Debidin (mover) and Mr. E. J. Rambally will lead the debate in the affirmative, while Miss. A.W. Aird (Missionary) and Miss. V. Debidin will be mover and seconder respectively in the negative.

The balata industry…
A little stir in the County of Berbice
(The Daily Chronicle: April 13, 1934)
AFTER A short period of cessation of activities in connection with the balata industry in Berbice, there is now a little stir in some of the Districts.
On Monday and Tuesday, fairly large amounts of labourers left to work on grants in the Berbice River, the Canje Creek and the Corentyne River.
Under new arrangements, Mr. T.W. Cooper is responsible for the operations in the Canje Creek, while Mr. J.C. Awer is in charge of the grants in the Berbice River, and Mr. S.A. Merriman in charge of grants in the Corentyne River.
Mr. Merriman has succeeded Mr. R.B. Scott as Superintendent of the Corentyne grants. Mr. Scott has been connected with the balata industry of B.G. for the past forty years or more.
He has shown unequalled skill and ability in cutting tracks in dense forest lands in Berbice and Essequebo, and has always enjoyed the confidence of his employers.

Counterfeit coins circulating throughout the country
(The Daily Chronicle: April 14, 1934)
COUNTERFEIT coins, in a larger degree than reported hitherto, have been circulating throughout the country.
The Police, for the time being, are baffled in their search for the source from which they are pouring in, but this, I understand, will not be for very long, as they have a few clues in hand.
These coins, which are chiefly shillings, are plentiful in the City and on the East Bank, and the latest reports to reach Police Headquarters are that some were discovered as far as Belfield, on the East Coast.
It was felt that it should not be at all surprising if reports should come in soon from New Amsterdam about these coins.
The peculiar circumstances surrounding them is that they are all minted, to all appearances, by the same mint, which is indeed a good one, as the coins, even to the ‘ring’, can hardly be detected from real ones, the only difference being that the impression is not as distinct throughout as the real coins.
In their drive against the counterfeiters, the Police are asking shop-owners, bus drivers and the general public to keep their eyes open for these coins, and as soon as they are discovered, to detain, if possible, the person tendering them, and to communicate with the nearest Police Station immediately.
The Police have made one arrest. The man is Allan McLennon, and he is charged with having in his possession six pieces of false coins resembling the King’s coin, knowing them to be false.
He appeared before the City Magistrate yesterday, and the hearing of the case has been postponed to April 16.

Courentyne Coast gets first ‘talkie’ theatre
(The Daily Chronicle: April 20, 1934)
THE Courentyne Coast will hear its first talking picture tonight when the Rose Hall ‘Apollo’ Cinema will have a gala opening night.
The picture chosen for the occasion is ‘Rogue Song’, a musical comedy starring the world- famous baritone, Lawrence Tibbett, supported by Laurel and Hardy, rollicking comedians.
The Apollo will show MGM pictures exclusively, and the choice of one of the biggest Box Office drawing cards  for the opening night augurs well for cinema fans on the Courentyne Coast.

‘Until further orders’ says government
-insanity report strengthened
(The Daily Chronicle: April 20, 1934)
THE EXECUTION of Arnold Edmondson, which was fixed to take place at the Georgetown jail at 8 o’clock this morning, has been postponed to a date to be fixed later.
Mr. S.I. Cyrus, who, as Counsel for the condemned man has been preparing a petition to his Majesty the King in Privy Council, received information of the postponement from Government yesterday.
This postponement is due to the fact that Edmondson has been suspected of insanity during the last few days, and has since been under medical observation by the Prison authorities.
An examination of Edmondson by Dr. C.E.S. Mitchell , Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, Berbice, and Dr O.M. Sampson, Prison Surgeon, Georgetown was made on Saturday last, and is reported to have strengthened the suspicion that he is at present of unsound mind.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)