New Guinea News

Benefits From High Exchange Rate — White Man Attacked by Native — Tunnel Hill Improved — New Golf Course Opened

From Our Own Correspondent

RABAUL, February 10.

THE truth of the saying that it’s an ill-wind that blows no one any good is graphically illustrated in the case of the present abnormal rise in the rate of exchange, which, at the time of writing, is in the neighbourhood of £30 per cent.

Planters and traders are greatly benefiting by this rate, as the firms buying copra here are passing a great proportion of the exchange to the pro ducer, with the result that the planter is getting to-day some £3 per ton more for his copra than he would have done had exchange remained normal.

This benefit could not have come at a more opportune time, for the planter has been struggling against ad verse conditions for very many months past, and some could not have carried on much longer.

As mentfoned in these columns in previous issues, keen competition be tween stores here has resulted in ap preciable reductions in prices; in fact, goods have not been so cheap for sev eral years past.

These two factors are assisting to put the planter on a fairly solid foot ing and will give many an opportunity to strengthen their positions. The big firms here are to be commended for their action in maintaining low prices.

A more hopeful atmosphere now ex ists about Rabaul, and even the most pessimistic of our planters find it diffi cult to maintain their usual hopeless attitude.

A Narrow Escape.

A few davs ago, Mr. D. M. Forsyth had an exciting and most unpleasant experience. A native employed at a neighbouring house was accusing Mr.

Forsyth’s native servants of stealing his rice. As he chose two o’clock in the morning to air his grievances, and, as these could be heard at least a quarter-of-a-mile away, Mr. Forsyth went out to clear the boy off his pro perty.

The native followed Mr. Forsyth back to the house and rushed on to the ver andah shouting that he would kill the white master. Mr. Forsyth closed with the boy, and, with the help of Mrs.

Forsyth, who very pluckily assisted, suc ceeded in overpowering him.

As it was an intensely dark night, it can be imagined what a terrifying experience this was, for it is apparent that the native had temporarily lost his reason.

Considerable damage was done in the scuffle, chairs and tables being over turned, glasses, ornaments and pictures being smashed. There is no doubt that both Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth had a very narrow escape, and yet, in the first instance, the police would only lay a charge of common assault, the maxi mum penalty for which is a fine of £2 or one month’s imprisonment. The charge now has been amended, and it is probable that the offender will be eventually brought before the Cen tral Court.

Administration’S Good Work.

The Tunnel Hill, familiar to all visi tors to Rabaul and over which one has to pass to reach the North Coast Road has been greatly improved lately. The tunnel itself has been considerably shortened, whilst the many dangerous turns on the ocean side have been straightened out and the road greatly widened.

The Administration have made a re markably good job of the improve ments, which were urgently needed in view of the danger the hill presented to motorists.

Several accidents have occurred on the hill, one of which was fatal, when Mr. Hiley, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, was killed some three years ago. The road along the north coast to Kabaira Bay is in very good order and is one of the finest 30mile runs one could wish for.

Mr. Tom Garrett, of Varzin Planta tion, Kokopo, had a narrow escape re cently, when his car overturned on the Kokopo Road and, it is understood, somersaulted no less than three times into a gully. The fact that Mr. Gar rett was driving a closed cab is prob ably the reason why no serious harm came to the occupants.

Golf Popular.

On Sunday, January 11th, the new golfcourse at Lukanai was formally opened by His Honour the Administra tor. Despite heavy rain, some 60 to 70 people attended the function.

The course is laid out around the Lukanai racecourse, and it is largely due to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. E. Banks that such excellent results have been obtained. As the ground is covered with kunai —a rapid growing and very coarse grass it has been difficult to make good fairways. But, even with this drawback, one can be sure of a sporting game, whilst the careless player is severely penalised if he drives into the rough, which, in this case, is very rough indeed.

Since the official opening, many new members have been secured, and it is

hoped that, in the near future, there will be sufficient funds available for the club to erect their own premises.

At the present time the race club buildings are being used.

Appropriately enough, the competi tion for the longest drive was won by Mr. P. Coote, the president of the club and general manager for Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd. in this Territory. The ap proach shot competition was won by Mr. Brownlie and the one-hole compe tition by Mr. Roberts, both members of Burns, Philp’s staff. Mrs. Wisdom won the ladies’ putting competition.

Swimming Carnival.

The Rabaul Amateur Swimming and and Surf Club held a carnival at Ra vuvu, near Rabaul, on January 24.

Torrential downpours of rain in the morning threatened to mar the pro ceedings, but fortunately the weather cleared by one o’clock.

His Honour the Administrator and Mrs. Wisdom attended and presented the “Administrator’s Cup” to the win ning team in the relay race.

It proved a most successful day for Frank Venning, of B.P.’s, who regis tered the remarkably good time of 24 s seconds in the 50 yards free style championship. He also won the 200 yards free style championship and the springboard diving championship, in addition to which he led the winning B.P. team in the relay race. Venning comes of a well-known sporting family in Brisbane, his father being the lessee of the Brisbane City Baths, and his sis ters have figured prominently in swim ming contests in Queensland.

The 100 yards breaststroke cham pionship was won by A. M. Crofton, of B.P.’s, the 50 yards backstroke championship by Challis, of the Ad ministration, and the 50 yards handicap by Crouch, also of the Administration.

In the ladies’ events the 50 yards cham pionship was won by Mrs. Betts, and the handicap over the same distance, by Miss M. Hawnt.

End Of Racing Season.

Rabaul Amateur Turf Club held a meeting for the Benevolent Fund on January 26. Although cloudy and threatening Weather prevailed, there was a good attendance, and those who faced the elements were rewarded with an excellent afternoon’s sport.

This meeting marked the close of the season, which has been very success ful. Mr. W. R. Smith heads the list of winning jockeys, in spite of the seri ous accident that he met with at Ko kopo races, which prevented him from riding at the last three meetings. Mr.

Smith recorded six wins out of nine mounts. Mr. J. Mullaly, of Natava Plantation, comes second with five wins in eleven mounts.

“The Best People.”

The Rabaul Amateurs gave an ex cellent rendering of the farce, “The Best People,” at the Regent Theatre, Rabaul, this week. Three perform ances were given, all to record houses.

The play was produced by Messrs. V.

A. Garton and J. E. Savage, both of whom played leading parts. Amongst the ladies, Mrs. E. Banks and Mrs. A.

E. Stoddart gave outstanding perform ances in difficult parts. These players

were admirably supported by the re mainder of the cast.

Rabaul certainly possesses a number of first-class amateurs, and the per formances that they have given during the past twelve months would be a credit to any big city. A feature of this last production is the scenery, which is exceptionally beautiful and re flects the greatest credit on Mr. James Hope, who was the scenic artist. The proceeds of the performance are to be donated to the local sporting bodies.

Personal Items.

Mr. C. S. Fletcher, Studebaker’s fac tory representative for the Far East, called here on S.S. Nellore, en route for Sydney, where he is to take over the duties of factory representative for Australasia. Mr. Fletcher was very in terested in a Studebaker touring car, owned by Mr. Tex Roberts, which has done no less than 280,000 miles over New Guinea roads, and is still in ser vice for hire work.

Mr. Britten, a well-known official in the Rabaul District Office, was married to Miss F. Hutchison, of Sydney, on January 16, at St. George’s Church, Rabaul.

Mr. J. Twycross, the popular man ager of Amalgamated Wireless Ltd. in New Guinea, has left with his family on a holiday to Australia. Mr. Twy cross’ position has been temporarily filled by Mr. J. Allan, the superintend ent at the wireless station at Bita Paka.

The position of legal assistant to the Crown Law Officer, which has been vacant for several months, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. G. V.

M. Turner, LL.B., of the New South Wales Bar, who arrived by the Mon toro on January 14.

Mr. R. A. Laws, of Messrs. Handley & Laws, general agents, Rabaul, is leaving in March for a round tour of the Pacific, including San Francisco and Los Angelese. During his absence, the business of Handley & Laws will be in the care of Mr. F. Robartson, formerly manager of the merchandise department of Campbell & Co., Rabaul.