Papuan Notes

Growth of Industries

From Our Own Correspondent Port Moresby, Sept. 9.

IN spite of the general depression in Papua, the average settler is taking things fairly calmly perhaps the calm of despair. Plantations and business houses, though heavily hit, are still carrying on. hoping vainly for a rise in prices; fully prepared to re trench still further and to stand by and see things through.

Sisal Hemp

The one outstanding gleam of prom ise seems to be sisal hemp. Its market price has risen lately to £56 per ton.

Javai Plantation, Rigo district, lately taken over by a new company, has quite reasonable hopes of making out of a forsaken and deserted proposition a considerable success. Labour condi tions are more reasonable, owing to natives finding it difficult to obtain work, and willing to work for smaller wages.

The Sangara Sugar Company, a fairly large company, recently formed, in the N.E. division, near Baniaig, is regarded by experienced men of long standing to be well worth considering, and well! able to compete in the world’s markets, in cost and production, when on its feet and in full working order.

However, this has yet to be proved.

Coffee is another new’ enterprise in a smaller way. Started lately in the hills north of Port Moresby, the reports are very promising, and it is said to have every chance of becoming, with its small bounty, a successful proposition.

If sugar and coffee prove successful, as well as sisal hemp, the gloom will be lifted a little, for rubber and copra are dead, and oil and gold seem as illusive as ever. Copper, some time ago, was an overwhelming disappointment.

Social Activities

The Annual Turf Club Meeting and Ball were a complete success, though fewer horses were entered, and the at tendance was not so large. Sir Hubert and Lady Murray put in an appearance on both occasions, and were very interested in the races. Mr. F. B. Godson

won both the Moresby Cup and the Samarai Handicap with Lady Eclipse.

The Samarai cricketers and athletes recently paid a visit to Port Moresby, challenging them to sports and cricket.

They beat Port Moresby badly in the sports events, but in cricket they were easily behind, Port Moresby recovering the shield. Sport plays a big part in the lives of the residents of Port Mor esby. Besides the Cricket Club, the Tennis, Aquatic and Golf Clubs have many devout followers, the Golf Club being the latest institution to be a safety valve for many depressed spir its with the help of the 19th hole at the Papuan Club on the homeward green.

Lady Murray has made a consider able difference to social life among the women in Port Moresby. Since her mar riage and arrival, her gracious and charming manner to all and her pleas ing personality, have won many friends.

Captain and Mrs. Pinney (the daugh ter of Sir Hubert Murray) have been her guests, and during their visit Lady Murray gave an At Home, and for the first time for many years Government House was the scene of much gaiety, the guests dancing until midnight. The main rooms, lounge and verandahs were decorated with finely shredded coconut palm leaves, hanging from the ceilings in fringes, presenting an extra ordinary effect of tropical splendour and illusiveness. Lady Murray must be congratulated on the success and originality of the evening, and the pleasures of her guests.

On August 12, His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor, Sir Hubert Murray, opened the London Missionary Soci ety’s new school Lawes College at Fife Bay. The buildings comprise a church, two houses for white mission aries, a native teacher’s house, and eleven houses for married couples, and a hospital. These buildings will give a fair idea of the splendid work covering many years of the L.M.S. in the Sam arai district.

In the midst of all our troubles, we receive news that Rear-Admiral Evans, on board H.M.A.S. Australia, accom panied by the Anzac, is due in Port Moresby on September 11. The excite ment and pleasure of seeing them has cheered us all up, and already arrange ments are being made for their enter tainment.