Bulolo Goes Gay.

(Contributed by “Jonathan” .) ON Saturday night. June 25, the mining camp of Bulolo was transformed from its usual sober, “he-man” aspect to a scene of sparkling gaiety—a transformation so complete that had one of the early prospectors chanced along, he must surely have gone straight to bed and taken an extra 20 grains to break the fever.

It was as though the wizardry of the Adminis trator’s speech on the occasion of the dredge opening had been again effective —and, behold! there was a ballroom in the heart of the New Guinea jungle—brilliantly lighted and festooned with all the colours of the rainbow, and a happy throng of dancers —talking, laughing, and whirling to the rythm of the latest foxtrot.

The occasion was an informal party given by Mr. Frank Griffin (director of Bulolo Gold Dredging, Limited), on the eve of his departure, by the “Montoro”, for the whirl and hubbub of the big cities of Australia and America.

It was Bulolo’s first dance. Not that the idea was new, but somehow no one before had had the necessary mixture of enterprise and optimism to hold a dance in a “batchelor” camp, the only means of access to which is by air. The question of providing accommodation for visitors from Lae, Salaraaua and Wau called for grave consideration; but the wizard’s wand waved all that away.

The new mess hall was completed in time and, with the aid of candle grease and noracic powder, the floor was made “wicked”—it was voted all round the best in the Territory. An amplifier was built for the gramophone, and 50 records mustered from around the camp. Quarters were vacated, and beds placed in all sorts of un expected places.

The gentle “spot” which preceded dinner had everybody in high good humour, and never was a repast more thoroughly enjoyed.

Dancing began soon after 9 p.m., and con tinued till 3.15 a.m., with fine gaiety. Twenty ladies were present, all looking very charming in frocks of divers hues.

There were but two speeches. These, as be fitted the occasion, were brief, but gave no un certain indication of the popularity of the genial director and the esteem in which he is held by all who met him during his stay on the goldfields. In both, the same question was raised—“ How soon can you be with us again?”

What more cordial farewell could anyone wish than that !

Attached is a list of those present:— Major and Mrs. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs.

Taylour, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury. Mr. and Mrs.

Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Bowen-Jones, Mr. and Mrs. L. Holden, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Gurney, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs.

Norman Wilde, Mr. and Mrs. J. Jukes, Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge, Mr. and Mrs. Bayliss, Dr. and Mrs. Gunther, Mr. and Ms. Honeysett, Mr. and Mrs. Wally Spence, Mrs. MacGilvery, Mrs.

Dugan, Misses Ela Gofton, Thelma Anderson Dorothy Stewart; Messrs. Frank Griffin, Louis Joubert, Eric Feldt, Harry Downing, Pard Mustar, Bert. Heath, I. Grabowsky, Tom Yeomans, — Burke, Harry Little, Clyde Taylor, S. Baker, J. Wright, J. Sherringham, N. Pauli, D. Brigstocke, T. Griffin, J. Mitchell, Hugh Black, Wm. Ball, Lars Bergstrand, Pud.

Mitchell, D. S. Browne, Arthur John and George Arnold.