Aviation In Papua.

Additional Landing Grounds: New Air Mail Postage Rates.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Oct. 2.

WITHIN the last month, two emer gency landing grounds have been completed in the heart of Papua, for the use of Guinea Airways, Ltd.

One of these is at Kabuna, in the Mekeo district, beyond Yule Island, and the other is at Kokoda in the Owen Stanley Range, near the Yodda gold fleld. The former is for the conveni ence of aircraft flying between Port Moresby and the Morobe goldfield in New Guinea, and the latter has been established for the purpose of facilitat ing transport to the Yodda, where min ing operations have been restarted.

Mr. Ward Williams, the American mining expert, was the first passenger from Kokoda to Port Moresby.

It is likely that the next emergency landing ground will be established at loma, which is in the mountains near the border of Papua and New Guinea.

Mishap At Kabuna.

Mr. Denny, a Guinea Airways’ pilot, on landing to inspect the emergency ground at Kabuna on September 15, damaged the undercarriage of his machine. Mr. Denny was uninjured.

Being unable to repair the under carriage, the pilot found it necessary to secure the services of some 40 natives in order that the ’plane could be car ried 15 miles through the jungle to the St. Joseph River. This was a big task.

It was then shipped down the river to Yule Island on the Catholic Mission punt and reached Port Moresby by the steamer “Papuan Chief” four days after the accident.

A Junkers-34 8-passenger ’plane is to taske the place of the present Junkers on the New Guinea goldfields to Port Moresby service. The old one is to be overhauled and refitted with a higher powered engine.

Aerial Postage Rates.

The chief postmaster of Port Moresby announced on September 23 that air mail rates of postage are to be charged on mail matter for the New Guinea goldfield. Up to the present time, no extra charge has been made for mails.

They were carried by the courtesy of the aerial companies.

A contract has been now made for the carriage by air of mails from Papua to New Guinea. The charge is 3d. per ½oz. for first-class mail matter, in ad dition to the ordinary rates of postage.

All second-class matter will be carried without special air mail fees. This is subject at any time to alteration, as regards newspaper matter published) outside the Territory of Papua.

The new rates are: Ordinary letters 5d. per ½oz. - Ordinary letters 8d. per 1oz.

Newspapers, magazines, books (Papuan and Australian) .. . 1d. per 6oz.

Printed elsewhere 1d. per 4oz.

Printed papers 1d. per 4oz.

H.M.S. “Veronica,” the sloop of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, arrived in Suva from Lautoka on August 25 and, after remaining in port for a week, sailed for Auckland.