En Route To Papua

And New Guinea.

Townsville, July 4.

THE “Macdhui,” on her present voy age to Papua and New Guinea, is a full ship, and carries many passen gers whose arrival will be of interest to the Territories.

Aboard is Brig.-General T. Griffiths, who has just been appointed Acting- Administrator of the Mandated Terri tory.

The announcement that, for a time at least, the General will reign at Ra baul has been received in all quarters with a degree of satisfaction that is a tribute to his excellent record as a military administrator in New Guinea prior to 1921, and to his subsequent work at Nauru and as a Commissioner in the New Hebrides.

The New Guinea officials regard the General with respect, an a little fear.

He has a most disconcerting habit of appearing in unexpected places and disclosing an unexpected knowledge of embarrassing things.

His manner is quiet and genial—a most approachable man. “My door is wide open to everyone,” he says. ‘‘Of ficial, or native, or planter—if they have anything to discuss with me, I shall be glad to see them.” He is a shrewd, very thorough, hard-working man, with a wider vision in regard to the future of the Territory and the need of encouraging enterprise in its develop ment, than is usually found in a man

who has spent many years in ‘‘the sheltered services.”

There are aboard several well known officials returning from leave. Mr. G.

Hogan, law officer at Rabaul, and Mrs.

Hogan; Mr. W. E. Rosser, of the Papuan service, just back from Eng land; Mr. M. C. Crocker, copra inspec tor at Kavieng; Mr. J. C. Boileau and Mr. H. S. Russell, of the Papuan ser vice; and several others.

Sir Keith Smith, notable airman, and a member of the Vickers firm, is prob ably on his way to Bulolo to find out why the aeroplanes used in the famous aerial transport service, are nearly all non-British. Mr. Ray Parer, of Pacific Aerial Transport; and Mr. McGilvray, a leading executive of Guinea Airways, Ltd., are also aboard —good friends, but they do not sit at the same table.

Other interesting travellers are Mr.

P. Coote, the B.P. manager at Rabaul; Mr. Godden, a leading engineer of the Bulolo Company; Mr. J. H. L. Water house, returning to his botanical re search work in Bougainville; Mrs.

Champion, daughter-in-law) of the Papuan Government Secretary, going to join her husband at Misima; Captain W. Hamilton, one of the best known men in the Solomons, en route to Bou gainville; Mr. N. Nelson, son of Mr.

Ivan Nelson (Nelson and Robertson), owner of the Rabaul Hotel; Mr. E Bishton, of the A.W.A. service, and pioneer of the Bulolo wireless station; Mr. H. V. Jaques, ex-M.L.A., and Mr.

D. Watkins, M.P.; Mrs. F. E. Eekhoff, returning to Lae from a visit south; Dr. C. C. Simson, on a short visit to Port Moresby.