New Guinea News

Holiday Festivities Bonus on Copra E. & A. Service Inaugurated

From Our Own Correspondent

RABAUL, January 5.

CHRISTMAS festivities at Rabaul were marred by inclement weather, heavy rain falling on all days except Christmas Day.

The New Guinea Club, as usual, ar ranged a splendid entertainment for the local children, over 140 of whom attended the club on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Most of the children came in fancy dress and, as they were attended by mothers and friends, the club premises, as well as the large marquee erected for the occasion, were crowded. The Administrator opened the proceedings with a speech to the children, after which presents were given to all by Father Christmas (Mr.

Jos. Holmes, the popular stores man

sufficient deterrent, and it would seem advisable for offenders to be sentenced to severe public floggings.

High Exchange Results In

Copra Bonus.

When advice was received in Rabaul of the rise in the exchange rate to £15/17/6 per cent., the Returned Sol diers’ Association (Rabaul Branch) promptly got in touch with the ex porting firms and asked that the whole of the increase be passed to the copra producers.

The firms have notified that an addi tional bonus of £1/2/6 per ton would be granted, and the prices now payable in Rabaul are London parity, less £5 per ton for Hot Air, £5/2/6 per ton for

Progress at Lae, New Guinea

ager of Carpenter & Co. Ltd.). Tea, followed by a Punch and Judy Show, completed the proceedings.

The Deutscher Club arranged a dance for members and their friends on Christmas Eve. The club premises were quite inadequate to cope with the number wishing to attend and the Re gent Theatre was used for the occasion.

The committee of this club lived up to its reputation and entertained nearly 200 people in great style.

Wunawutung Hotel, with every room booked some weeks ago, was the popular resort on Christmas Day. One hundred guests sat down to dinner, whilst it would appear that half of Rabaul migrated to this popular resort for the dance that followed.

It is exceedingly unfortunate that Boxing Day opened with heavy rain storms and that in consequence the race meeting arranged by the Kokopo Sports Club had to be postponed, also the race ball that was to take place in the evening at the Kokopo Hotel.

Race Meeting At Lukanai

A very successful meeting was held by the Rabaul Amateur Turf Club on New Year’s Day at their Lukanai Course on the outskirts of Rabaul. The attend ance was not up to that of former meetings, evidently a sign of the hard times, out the racing was good and the course benefiting by the rains that fell at Christmas, was in excel lent condition.

The principal event of the day was won by an outsider, Greta Boy, owned by Mr. Alan Puller, a popular mem ber of Burns, Philp’s staff. His Honour, the Administrator, presented the Wav efly Cup to Mr. Fuller at the conclusion of the races. Two of the keenest and strongest supporters of the Turf Club, Mr. V. B. Pennefather and Mr. J. Sa bine, each secured popular wins.

Assault On White Woman.

A lady visitor to Rabaul was vio lently assaulted recently by a native on the road to Namanula. She was badly hurt and suffering from shock, and had to receive treatment at Nam anula Hospital.

Her assailant was arrested, but for some inexplicable reason the lady re fused to make a charge or give evi dence, with the result that the native got off scot-free. In many cases here when white women are molested by natives, it is understandable that they are reluctant to give evidence in open court, but the present instance was, apparently, one of common assault, and it is regrettable that in the interests of the community that the lady did not allow the native to be tried and punished.

From Salamoa, there are disquieting reports of white women being molested and in spite of every precaution being taken by Government officials, it is reported the assaults continue.

It would appear that terms of im prisonment in “Calaboose” are not a

Sun Dried, and £6 per ton for Smoke Dried.

The Returned Soldiers’ Association have been very active in the interests of planters, the majority of whom are members, and allows no opportunities to pass to secure some advantage for the sorely pressed planter.

Death Of Mrs. W. G. Mitchell.

The death is reported of Mrs. Mit chell, wife of Mr. W. G. Mitchell, man ager for Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., at Salamoa. Mrs. Mitchell was well known for her kindness and hospital ity at Salamoa to those passing through on their way to the goldfields. Mrs.

Mitchell was formerly resident in Papua, where her husband was stores superintendent for the New Guinea Copper Mines Ltd., at Bootless Inlet, Port Moresby, and her many friends in that Territory will grieve to learn of her death.

Tanda Visits Rabaul.

S.S. Tanda paid her first visit to Rabaul on December 16, thus inaugura te the new service of the E. & A. line. The arrival was celebrated by an official luncheon at which His Honour, the Administrator, a number of high Government officials and a few com mercial men to leaven the dough, were present.

As already reported, in announcing the calls of the E. & A. steamers to this port, the agents (Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd.) stated that it was not in tended to cater for freight and pas sengers to and from Australia. This course was relaxed on this occasion and it was stated that passengers would be carried at a fare of £28. As this announcement was only made a few hours before sailing, few were able to avail themselves of the opportunity, even if they were prepared to pay the high fare. Probably the concession was made as the Montoro had sailed on the previous day with more passen gers than berths; this means that some thirty odd passengers were accommo dated in the steerage, whilst a further number had to be content with shake downs in the public rooms.

The N.D.L. Co. have announced that passengers will be carried per S.S.

Bremerhaven to Hongkong for £20, in lieu of the charge of £36 formerly made.

Personal Items.

Mr. E. T. Brown, who has been a leading barrister and solicitor for many years, left by the last Montoro. Mr.

Brown has definitely retired from business and, we believe, intends to proceed to England on a prolonged holiday. Mr. Brown’s practice has been taken over by his partner, Mr. F. L Flannery.

Other travellers to Australia have been Mrs. H. O. Townsend, wife of the Treasurer. Dr. Sinclair of the Public Health Department, and Colonel Shil lington, Stipendiary Magistrate at Rabaul.

In the centre of the picture is the new wharf erected by Bulolo Gold Dredging Co. at Lae, Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Parts of the first G31 Junker ’plane are on the punt. A railway line is being constructed from this wharf to the aerodrome, half a mile away. In the foreground is the new steam lighter, Delta.