New Guinea News

The Breaking of the Drought

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Nov. 1.

THE prolonged drought, which has been causing the gravest concern, has broken at last; several showers have fallen during the past week, and there are promises of more to come.

At one time residents were faced with the possibility of no ice—a dire catas trophe—as Messrs. Carpenter and Co.’s own supply was exhausted, and the Ad ministration was obliged to conserve the little left at the old Government Ice Works. Fortunately, Carpenter & Co. arranged that an incoming cargo steamer, m.v. Talleyrand, should bring 300 tons of water for their ice works and inter-island steamers.

It will seem extraordinary that water should have to be imported to a place with the heavy rainfall that we average each year—bringing “coals to Newcastle” with a vengeance—but it would appear that we may be subject to droughts, as in drier parts of the world.

Possibly the Administration will take action to safeguard residents against a recurrence of the recent conditions,

ports of call. The Catholic Mission is amongst the biggest individual copra exporters, and it is now concentrating copra from its mainland stations at Alexishafen per motor schooner Stella Maris, which has just been placed in commission for that purpose. As the Catholic Mission at Vunapope, Rabaul, is also shipping copra by s.s. Bremer haven, it would appear that this vessel is assured of at least profitable return cargoes to Hongkong.

At one time it appeared as if this service would have to be discontinued owing to lack of cargo for the home ward run. The Bremerhaven provides low through-freights from Europe and Japan for our direct importers. The Lutheran Mission, with headquarters at Finschhafen, and a considerable estab lishment at Madang, has recommis sioned the motor schooner Bavaria, in which a new full Diesel engine has been installed.

Commercial Progress

It is understood that Carpenter and Co. Ltd. intend to re-open their retail store premises at the corner of Mango

and, when public funds are available, arrange for the conservation of water in the hills at the back of the town ship, which it is understood can be done at comparatively little expense.

Trade Still Depressed

Trade here is still in a very depressed state, although the steady increase dur ing the month in the price of copra to £15/12/6 has had a re-assuring effect.

The exporting firms have advised plant ers of a further allowance of 5/- per ton on account of the profits being rea lised on the exchange rate. This makes a total allowance of 15/- per ton that has been granted.

New Shipping Service

Last week brought m.v. Talleyrand, of the William Williamson line, to this port, this being the first call of a new service. The Talleyrand, and sister ships of the same line, are to make a bi-monthly call at Rabaul to pick up copra and to land merchandise from European ports. The route to Europe will be via Australian ports. These vessels have limited, but very superior, passenger accommodation.

Wunawutung Hotel Sold

The sale of Giri-Giri plantation did not take place, the auction being with drawn at the last minute.

Wunawutung Hotel, on the North Coast road, was sold for a nominal amount to the mortgagee, Mr. J. Comb, who has since leased it to Mrs. J. J.

Gilmore for a period of twenty years.

Extensive alterations are to be made to the hotel, chief of which is a new dance floor and a new bar. The hotel will fill a long-felt want for a pleasure resort within easy distance of Rabaul, and, as Mrs. Gilmore is an able mana geress, and is well known and popular, there is little doubt but that the resort will be well patronised. As hotel ac commodation in Rabaul is limited, and usually taxed to its fullest capacity when the mail steamers are in, and, as Wunawutung is but seven miles from Rabaul, the hotel will doubtless be of great convenience for visitors and tour ists. The management intends to maintain a service car, so that trans port to and from the hotel will not be an expensive item.

The Bremerhaven Service

The N.D.L. steamer Bremerhaven, which has been making regular trips from Hongkong to Rabaul for some time past, has now included Madang and Alexishafen, on the mainland, as

Avenue and Park Street. These prem ises have been closed since the re moval of the stores department to the former store of the Expropriation Board. They are now to be used for motor car and truck display, and for the sale of all motor accessories, with a service station combined. A better site could not be selected for the pur pose.

The bulk store adjoining the above premises is to be converted into a club for Carpenter & Co.’s staff. Alterations are now in progress, and a new floor is to be laid to permit dancing.

Public Service Conditions

Mr. Wallcott, Civil Service Commis sioner, who is investigating the condi tions of our service with, it is hoped, a view to bettering these, and, at the same time effecting economies, recently visited Salamoa and Madang. The of ficial yacht, S. Y. Franklin (Comman der C. J. R. Webb, R.A.N.R.), was used for the purpose, and the public are wondering why the Administration went to what appears a quite unneces sary expense. Within a few days of the departure of the Franklin two in ter-island vessels left for Salamoa, both of which had passenger accommoda tion, whilst a quick return could have been effected by the Montoro. The pub lic have long questioned the need for this vessel, which is regarded as an ex pensive luxury, probably costing the Territory £10,000 per annum.

Some civil servants have expressed the opinion that they would rather work longer hours, with a proportion ate increase in pay, than the present hours. These are from 8 to noon and from 1.30 to 3.30. The hours could easily be extended to 4.30 without in flicting any hardships, and at the same time, this would be to the public convenience, as commercial houses and professional men keep open until 4.30.

Even a public office, such as the Post Office, closes at 3.30, which is a great inconvenience at times. A proportion of civil servants must find difficulty in filling in time after 3.30—and, incidentally, “filling in time” in Rabaul is an expensive pastime.

Tragic Death Of Well-Known

Identity

Mrs. Calder, of the Mortlock Islands, a well-known identity in New Guinea, met with a tragic fate last month. Mrs.

Calder was about to dynamite some fish when the charge, from some un known reason, prematurely exploded.

Mrs. Calder’s head and face were badly

injured, whilst both hands were blown off.

Shortly after the accident s.s. Mai wara arrived and took Mrs. Calder on board. Medical assistance from Mr.

Pickwell (Medical Assistant in the Ad ministration) and Dr. Spiese, who were on board, was of no avail, and Mrs.

Calder died the following day.

Mrs. Calder was associated with “Queen Emma,” whom she accom panied to this Territory many years ago.

Copra Drops Again

Consternation reigned in Rabaul last month when advice was received of a fall of 27/6 per ton in the London market price of Cop-a. London parity of £14/12/6 spells disaster for most planters as, taken by and large, it is not possible to produce and land copra in Rabaul at a profit. Those unfor tunate owners who are located in the outlying districts and have to pay heavy freights to bring their produce to the overseas loading points are faced with a loss on every ton produced. Even those more favourably situated can, at the best, only hope for a bare margin of profit.

The suspension of payments of instal ments to the Custodian of Expropriated Properties on plantations for a period of one year and the writing-off of interest for the same period is a wel come relief. But this is a temporary measure only and it is very doubtful if copra will ever again reach the level on which purchases were made, it is probable that similar representa tions for relief will be made again in future years. No doubt the Planters and Traders’ Association, who have devoted much time to this problem, will submit proposals to the Federal Government for its solution.

No Help For The Pioneers

A point that appears to have been entirely overlooked is that relief has been sought, and secured, only for those who purchased plantations from the Custodian of Expropriated Proper ties, whilst aliens (non-enemy) who held plantations prior to the war, and those British subjects who, since the termination of the war, have taken up and planted new land, have received no relief whatever. This falls parti cularly hard on the last-named, who are doing actual development work in the Territory and yet receive no assist ance.

As this Territory depends almost entirely on copra, the slump in the price is immediately reflected in all walks of life. Imports are reduced with a cor responding lower revenue from duties to the Administration, which in turn is cutting down expenditure on public works. A number of temporary em ployees have already been put off. The stores report reduced sales, whilst several of the smaller Chinese traders are closing down.

W. R. Carpenters’ Enterprise

In contrast to this it is pleasing to note that Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd. have just completed a new wharf at Malaguna, Rabaul, specially designed for the accommodation of overseas vessels loading copra at this port. A shed 250 feet long, sixty feet wide and twenty feet high, with a stor age capacity of 3,750 tons, has been erected at the new wharf. Two weigh bridges have been installed and copra will be loaded by means of trucks each having a carrying capacity of 15 bags.

One pier at the wharf has a frontage of 70 feet, which will enable two hatches of vessels to be worked simultaneously.

The minimum depth at the wharf is 26 feet, which is sufficient to accom modate any of the overseas vessels now calling at Rabaul. A second and simi lar shed is to be erected and excava tions for this are already well in hand.

This additional accommodation should do much to remove the congestion that has arisen at times in the past and will facilitate rapid loading so that overseas vessels will not be unduly delayed.

In addition to their two inter-island Steamers, Carpenter and Co. Ltd. have inaugurated a bi-monthly service with Tulagi with their motor vessel Duram bah.

It is anticipated that the new Gov ernment wharf on the Malaguna road will be ready for use next month. Work is completed with the exception of the approaches. It is understood that the cost to date is in the neighbourhood of £28,000.

Personal Items

His Excellency the Administrator, Brig.-Gen.

E. A. Wisdom, who has been absent from Rabaul on his annual tour of inspection of New Ireland, returned by S. Y. Franklin on October 18.

Mrs. Wisdom returned to Rabaul per Mon toro on October 20, and will leave again for Australia with the Administrator in December.

Mr. Burleigh Gorman, a director and one of the principal shareholders of Salamoa Trading Co. Ltd., which conducts the Sala moa Hotel, is at present on a business visit to this Territory.

Mr. C. J. Levien, a director of Guinea Air ways Ltd., is also at Salamoa.

Mr. W. Royal, of the “Big Six,” who pegged out the richest portion of Edie Creek, has re turned to the Territory. He is at present at Salamoa, and it is rumoured that he intend

to do further prospecting in the Morobe district.

Mr W. Korn, a well-known identity on Edie Creek in the early days, and one of the for tunate Day Dawn Syndicate, was married on board s.s. Durour, on October 12 to Miss Agnes Wall, of Box Hill, Victoria. Mr. Korn is now manager of the plantation at Matty Island whence the Durour had proceeded with the bride.

Mr. J Comb of Kupei Goldfields, Kieta, has returned to the field, accompanied by Mr.

Banks, an official of Placer Development Ltd.

The death is announced of Peter, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Uechtritz, of Sum-Sum Plan tation. Peter who was but eight years old, died at Bowral, where he was at school.

“Dugouts” on the Sepik River, New Guinea.

Block supplied by Messrs. Burns Philp & Co. Ltd., who provide special tours to many interesting places in the Pacific Islands.