Tropicalities

Written for The Pacific Islands Monthly by “Sea-Serpent”

A VALUED correspondent in Papua, who signs himself “Papuan,” sends along some more information concern ing that much-used word, “dohori,” or “dohore,” as he states it should be spelt. He gives as its meaning, “Not yet—presently.” He sends the follow ing example of its application: “A steamer has been sighted, and you ask a Motu man, ‘Is the steamer in?’ If she is not, he will reply ‘Dohore.’ ”

“Papuan” continues; “An Australian journalist visiting the Malay States, once wrote that he had found out what was the call of the East—it was ‘boy!’

There is so much ‘boy’ in Papua that the native has adopted ‘dohore’ in self defence, and what he means now', I think, is ‘Give me a chance, I am not a centipede.’ ” * * * WHEN the price of rubber fell on the London market to 3½d. per lb recently, it was generally accepted as a low record. But it has teen stated that very many years ago, before the indus try had developed in the East Indies, the Brazilian article sold in London for 2d. per lb. At the present price, it is doubtful if any plantation in the world is making a profit, although plantations in the East have greatly reduced pro duction costs in recent years. Sir Eric Geddes, chairman of the Dunlop Rub ber Co., which owns about 70,000 acres of planted rubber, stated recently that the production costs on the company’s plantations average 4½d. per lb. f.o.b. during the current year. For August this year, he estimated they were less than 4d., and, when new and improved areas come into tapping, a cost of un der 3d. per lb., f.0.b., is expected.

In Papua, where the value of rubber exported has been equal to that of copra, a price of Bd. per lb. is consid ered necessary to enable plantations to carry on. * * * IN spite of general depression in New Guinea, it looks as though the Ad ministration will not be kept waiting long before it commences to receive worth-while royalties from Morobe goldfields. New Guinea Goldfields an nounce that, commencing from Janu ary next, the profit from the alluvial deposits on their leases will be £4,000 per month. Crushings of the reef gold will not commence until more drilling and general exploration work has been done. Then there is Bulolo Gold Dred ging Ltd. The ’planes for taking in the huge dredges will be delivered very soon, and the transport and erection of the machinery will follow. The com pany estimates the profits from its Southern Bulolo leases will be in the vicinity of £2,800,000. It should take about 13 years before this property is worked out, and all the time the Ad ministration will be collecting its 5 per cent, royalty from the gross value of the gold. A rich reef has been devel oped by Day Dawn (New Guinea) Ltd., and crushing here should com mence early in the new year.

Apart from the Morobe field, the pos sibilities of the Sepik River and Ramu River headwaters are receiving the at tention of prospectors, and there is a good chance of something being opened up in these quarters.

FROM that hard-bitten N.S.W. politi cal warrior, Sir Thomas Henley, I have received a copy of his book, “A Pacific Cruise —Musings and Opinions on Island Problems.” Although it has no pretentions to literary style, and al though the author has rushed in to solve political problems where even the angels would fear to tread, I read the book from cover to cover, with keen in terest. Sir Tom has collected in these pages an amazing amount of chatty matter about Tonga and Samoa —much of it historically valuable, and all of it instructive and entertaining. He also publishes over 100 “human interest” photographs. The method and style of the book certainly pays tribute to the author’s habits of observation and philosophy.

With the best motives in the world, Sir Thomas went to Samoa, to study and give advice concerning that mass of political gunpowder. He strove very earnestly to find a “formula,” and was taken almost as seriously by a few people as he took himself; but the solution of the Samoan problem was not brought appreciably nearer. As a contribution to the literature on Sa moan politics, the book has little value; but it does throw some interesting side lights on Mau and anti-Mau personali ties. * * * TROUBLES, both financial and ad ministrative, crowded thickly upon Islands Plantations Ltd. during October and November, with the result that the enterprise has been more or less reorga nised. Its plan was to establish a bond selling business, based on the develop ment of coffee-plantations in New Guinea. It announced that Messrs.

Hanson, Washington and Pennefather, well-known New Guinea planters, were the directors; and it brought itself un der the notice of Sydney investors with a mighty flurry of publicity. But bond selling operations dragged; Mr. Wash ington publicly denied that he was a director of the company, or was res ponsible in any way for the prospectus; and finance became a serious problem.

Finally, the directors’ shares were taken over by a Mr. Knight, a well known Sydney bond salesman, and he is now trying to get the seriously crumpled enterprise back again on to the commercial rails. We hope he suc ceeds—for the sake of New Guinea. It would be a thousand pities if the development of this rich and wonder ful country were retarded by the pro motion and collapse of schemes that are fundamentally unsound. * * * THE Governor of Fiji, Sir Murchison Fletcher, is advocating the use of more copper coins in the Colony. He considers that it would help to bring financial relief by reducing the cost of living. He can see no obstacle in the way, and thinks that the scheme would be ideal in a country where so much native labour is used. It is reported that the banks are prepared to co operate with him in the plan. The 3d. piece is the lowest coin commonly used.

The use of silver is a legacy from the old days, when copper was almost un known.