Papuan News

Experiments with Castor Oil Seeds and Soya Bean — Local Coffee in Demand— Improving Coastal Service

From Our Own Correspondent.

PT. MORESBY, August 4 SINCE the excitement and interest caused by the passing of the Prim age Tax Bill (referred to elsewhere) has died down, there is little to report.

Market values remain about the same. A good deal of interest is still centred round mining and the Tauri gold field.

Members of the Mahony’s Gold Syn dicate have returned from the field with good reports and are still optim istic. Mr. Dunstan, the mining expert and former Chief Government Geolo gist for Queensland, has arrived and is proceeding, together with Mr. H.

Garbutt, to the field, to make his re port on the leases taken up recently.

In the Warden’s Court last month, nine applications for mining leases on the Tauri field were heard and all applications were recommended for ap proval, subject to survey.

Since the report of the discovery of a reef formation, the field is receiving more serious consideration.

There have been several applications for exemption of leases for a period of six months, tihe applicants desiring time to raise capital to provide mach inery and to have the ground examined by experts.

Success Of New Crops

The efforts in sisal hemp and millet have been found unsatisfactory, owing to various difficulties, financial and otherwise, but it is satisfactory to learn that castor oil seeds, soya beans and tobacco are being tried, with good hopes and promises of a ready market.

All are being grown a few miles out side Port Moresby and by the Laloki River, and are being given every en couragement by the firms in the town and the Government.

Papuan coffee and desiccated coconut are in quite good favour with the householders of the Territory. Though coffee is in the early stages of produc tion, it is interesting to notice that there is an eager demand for it locally, on account of its freshness and good quality.

Shipping Movements

The Mataram arrived in Port Moresby on July. 30, a little late owing to heavy weather, with very little cargo from Sydney and few passengers.

The steamer Alynbank arrived the previous Tuesday—July 28 —and loaded 7,237 bags of copra for Europe. She sailed the following Tuesday for Rabaul.

The Le Maire called in on her way to Noumea, New Hebrides and Rabaul, bringing cargo and the new Fokker plane for the Pacific Transport Co.

Lt. Ray Parer arrived in Port Moresby to meet the machine, flying over from Salamoa in the Lady Letty, piloted by Lieut. Ross and accompanied by Mr. Downham.

In order to economise the Government is transferring the Government launch, Elevala. to Samarai, and withdrawing the Vailala and

Guitana from the East and South-east divi sions, laying up the Vailala and selling the Guitana.

The Vailala, later on, is to be fitted out with a crude oil engine and sent to the Western Division to replace the launch there which is used for magisterial purposes

Alteration To Mail Service?

Tenders have been called by the Adminis tration for a new coastal mail service, em bracing a monthly call at selected points on the coast, from Samarai to Daru.

Since Burns, Philp and Co. withdrew from this coastal trade some ten or so years ago, the service has been carried on by the Steam ships Trading Co., of Port Moresby and Sam arai. As this progressive firm is the only local concern capable of maintaining such a service, it is likely that they will again secure the contract.

In this connection there is a suggestion that the arrangement of mail services should be altered.

The present system calls for a service from Samarai to Daru and return, and a second service, from Samarai to Buna.

The suggestion now made is that the main service should be from Port Moresby to Buna, on the north-east coast, via Samarai, with a subsidiary service embracing points from Port Moresby to Daru.

The proposed alteration offers a consider able improvement on the old service and would almost certainly result in greater effi ciency and convenience to shippers along the coast.

At present, the S.S. Papuan Chief (Steam ships Trading Co. Ltd.) makes regular ser vice trips from Port Moresby via coastal calls to Samarai, and back by same route, then Port Moresby via coastal calls to Daru and back, full trip occupying about one month.

Social

The Golf Club dinner, presided over by the Captain, His Honor Mr. Justice Gore, was held at the Papua Hotel on July 18, alto gether 28 members of the Club being present.

The dinner was the outcome of a match played in the afternoon between two teams of 12 each, chosen by the President and Captain, the winning team being the hosts of the evening.

Mr. Justice Gore proposed the toast of the winner of the Gore Cup, Mr. J. R. Clay, and in presenting the Cup he expressed his pleas ure in the interest taken in the tournament and the impetus given to the game by the donation. He also referred to the excellent state of the course, due entirely to Mr.

Brossey, the hon, secretary of the Club.

It was agreed that the dinner was the most successful one held in Port Moresby for many years.

The Annual Dinner of the Papuan Club was held at the Club on July 25, and presided over by the President, Mr. G. A. Loudon.

In spite of the depressed times a very suc cessful dance was held at the Institute Hall by the Church of England Ladies’ Guild.

Personal Items

The Hon. E. C. Harris, Treasurer of the Territory, accompanied by his wife and small daughter, left by the Alynbank, for Europe.

Mr. Harris is going on vacation leave for nine months.

Capt. Zimmer, who returned by the Mat aram, has been appointed as Resident Magis trate of the Gulf Division, and will leave shortly for Kerema, the Government station in that division.