New Guinea

Notes From Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent.

RABAUL, April 20.

THE buildings for the new Native Maternity Welfare Centre at Mal ambunga, near the Bainnings District, are nearing completion, and the sec ond Nursing Sister has now arrived in the Territory.

The new Rabaul Club building is showing good progress, and it should not now be very long before it is ready for occupation.

New Compound For Natives.

It has been proposed that a new native compound should be built at Rapindik, where all Government in dentured natives may be quartered, thus keeping a great many natives out of the town area after nightfall.

This work cannot be commenced this financial year, however, as there are no funds available at present. But we have great hope that in the next financial year the work shall be gone on with.

Copra Shipments.

1930 1931 January 7,937 Tons 5,882 Tons February 2,263 Tons 4,908 Tons March 2,263 Tons 5,528 Tons Shipments of copra by the Nord- Deutscher Lloyd steamer Bremerhaven are now considerable. Last trip the Bremerhaven took a full quota of cargo, and we understand that space for the next trip is fully booked.

Planters’ Appeal.

The Returned Sailors and Soldiers’

Imperial League, Rabaul branch, has been in communication during March with the Commonwealth Government, with a view to having the present sus pension of payments to the Custodian of Expropriated Properties extended for another year, owing to the contin ued low price of copra.

The returned soldiers of the Terri tory have decided to form a Returned Soldiers, Planters and Traders’ Sub- Branch, which will be affiliated with the Territory of New Guinea State Branch. It is believed that such a move would be for the benefit of the returned soldiers interested in planting and trading, as these comprise 90 per cent, of the planters of the Territory.

They would then have the support of the governing body in Australia, and any representations made to the Com monwealth Government would have the backing of that strong organisa tion.

Education Tax Off.

The Administration has notified the R.S. and S. League that the native education tax of 1/- per native per month, which is paid to the Govern ment has been waived until June 30, 1931. This concession is greatly appre ciated by the returned soldier planters, as it represents in the vicinity of 3/per ton on their copra.

Personal.

The Administrator, Brigadier-Gen eral Wisdom, recently returned after an absence of about three months in Australia, on official business.

Our popular principal medical offi cer, Dr. T. Brennan, with Mrs. Bren nan and family, has returned after an absence of twelve months in Aus tralia. During his absence, Dr. Bren nan did a course in tropical medicine at the Sydney University, and gained his Diploma of Tropical Medicine.

Mr. E. P. Chinnery has returned after an absence of twelve months. Mr.

Chinnery carried out a very extensive tour and, during the time he was away went to Geneva on behalf of the Ad ministration to advise the League of Nations on native questions connected with this Mandated Territory.

Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Carpenter, of Messrs. W. R. Carnenter & Co. Ltd., paid a short visit to Rabaul, per M.V.

Templar, in April, and returned to Sydney by the same boat.

Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson, of Kokopo, have returned, after an absence of four months.

Mr. E. M. Granter, who has been absent on leave in Australia for the past six months, has returned to Rabaul.

Mr. G. T. Wells, of the Lands Depart ment, is back again after a few months’ leave in Australia.

Our Chief Collector of Customs, Mr.

E. Featherstone Phibbs, proceeded south by the St. Albans last week on leave.

Social Notes.

The Rabaul Masonic Lodge gave a ball just before Easter, which was one of the best organised functions held in the Territory. The Regent Theatre which had been engaged, was tasteful ly decorated, good music was provided by the Tropical Troubadours, and about 190 guests spent a most enjoy able evening.

The Kavieng cricket team visited Rabaul during easter, in an endeavour to retain the “ashes” which they had won last Christmas, but Rabaul on this occasion were too good for the visitors.

On Easter Monday a dinner and dance were given to the visitors at the Ra baul Hotel, and His Honour the Ad ministrator presented the “ashes” to the Rabaul team.

Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Heron, of Tova kundum plantation, gave a farewell dinner party at the Wunawutung Hotel to Mr. and Mrs. E. Featherstone Phibbs (Chief Collector of Customs) prior to their departure south on leave.