Papuan News

Trade Outlook Unfavourable—Success of New Industries —Disappointing Results from Tauri Goldfield.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Port Moresby, May 15.

THE position in Papua is serious, owing to the recent collapse of the rubber market, and general condi tions will become unsatisfactory unless the value rises shortly.

Copra is again down, and there seems to be no likelihood in the near future of it reaching a satisfactory price. The fluctuations in the market are showing a slow but persistent downward trend.

If these recent conditions have come to stay the economic situation of Papua will need adjusting.

In most cases the salaries of white men have been severely reduced and there have been reductions of the more highly paid native, yet very many na tives are still commanding wages which are ridiculous in comparison with their actual values and their com panies’ finances.

For several years previous to the pre sent day slump, the wages of the more competent natives have been rising steadily, far in advance of the coun try’s prosperity.

It is very satisfactory to know that, in spite of other setbacks, Papuan desiccated coconut and coffee are coming along steadily. “Eilogo” coffee from Mr. G. A. Loudon’s Eilogo estate, in the Sogeri district, in the hills north of Port Moresby, is now ready for ex port and for general local sales. This is reported to be an excellent “Ro busta” coffee, both its flavour and aroma being exceptionally good.

The residents of Papua are now in the happy position of being able to support a few home industries—coffee, desiccated coconut, timbers and millet.

The progress of these may perhaps be an inducement for others to follow on similar or diverse lines, with the same success.

There is no news from the Tauri goldfield. Another party has re turned, expressing the opinion, as others before them, that there is no payable gold, that the area is not worth prospecting. However, there are two parties still trying their luck, in spite of the field gradually being de serted.

Trial Of Kuni Murderers.

The trial of the four murderers of the Kuni mountain people was conclu ded in the Central Court on April 17, before His Honour Mr. Justice Murray.

They were all found guilty and sen tenced to death.

These sentences were considered in the Executive Council on April 21, when the following order was made: “Sentence of death to be carried out in the case of Orepu and Koapa. Sentence in the case of Bakai and Philippo to be com muted to ten years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Time and place of execution to be fixed hereafter.”

The Order of the Executive Council will be submitted to the Prime Minis ter of Australia.

The convicted natives are of the more educated type, and have been in touch with Europeans for many years, one being a domestic servant of long standing, and another an ex-Lance Corporal of Police.

The three murdered men came down from the hills, as is their custom, to trade, bringing with them their native wares and money. They were unarmed.

They received a poor welcome on their way down through the villages and, leaving Bailala at dusk, they were at tacked and killed and their bodies bur ied in a scrub hen’s nest, where they

were discovered by the police. The dis appearance of these three men caused alarm amongst the Kuni people, and their friends made four attempts to find them. Fearing treachery they re ported the matter to the Government.

The motive of the crime was robbery.

Other villages nearby Bailala, where the murders were committed, were frightened of reprisals from the moun tain people and were wary of night at tacks, but now, no doubt, hearing the result of the trial, they will realise justice has been done, and the differ ent tribes will again settle down to their former amicable relations.

Well Known Missionary

Arrives.

The Rev. Cecil and Mrs. King have arrived, accompanied by their niece, Miss Kemy, by the last Morinda. Mr.

King is relieving the Rev. H. Matthews, who is going south for a well-earned rest, to the hinterland, behind Cairns, North Queensland, for three months.

Mr. King is not exactly a newcomer to this territory. In 1898 and 1914 he visited these shores, on the first occa sion arriving by the Titus, an ocean liner, compared to which our present day Morinda appears in the light of a floating palace.

Mr. King is a brother of the Rev.

Copland King, a well known missionary of the Anglican Mission, who spent many years on the N.E. coast of Papua. He was very interested in an thropology and wrote interesting notes in his mission reports on the strange customs of the northern tribes in that division, which have been of great in terest to those studying anthropology in the Pacific.

Anzac Day Memorial Service was held in the Institute Hall, when His Excellency Sir Hubert Murray, accompanied by Lady Murray, presided over a large gathering of residents in Port Moresby.

His Excellency addressed the gather ing and was assisted by the Rev. H.

Mathews and the Rev. O. S. Parry, B.Ec.

Social Activity.

Mrs. Champion, wife of the Hon. W.

Champion, Government Secretary, en tertained Lady Murray and several ladies of Port Moresby to afternoon tea at her home at Konedobu last week. Mrs. Champion, in pale yellow, dispensed tea and cakes with consider able success on the verandah of her pretty bungalow.

Following suit, two or three parties have been given in Lady Murray’s honour by different ladies of the town.

Sporting.

Cricket, golf and tennis are again in full swing and very shortly canoe racing will commence, with its usual excitement and vigour.

The annual general meeting of the Port Moresby Aquatic Club was held in the club house, when the Commo dore, Hon. E. C. Harris, took the chair.

The treasurer, Mr. de Groen, repor ted on the club’s finances, and stated that all liabilities were paid, includ ing all costs of the club house, showing a small credit balance. Office-bearers for the new year were elected. Sir Hu bert Murray being made patron and Mr. F. L. Leydin commodore.

It was decided to commence racing on May 16, and that the committee should handicap the first race of the season. During the sailing season last year there was an average of 13 can oes at each race.