Wau Notes.

From Our Own Correspondent.

WAU, January 14.

Hogmanay Celebrations.

AN enjoyable dance was held in the Recreation Hall on December 31. This function was fancy dress and a farewell to the Old Year.

Wonderful and varied were the fancy costumes worn by the people present. Over twenty ladies and one hundred men took part, so the ladies were hopelessly outnumbered. One man remarked during the speech of the evening, “No wonder I can’t get a dance.”

Prize winners were: —Best-dressed lady in fancy costume, Mrs. T. Flowers as an ‘‘Early Victorian lady.” Best-dressed gentleman in fancy costume, Mr. T. Flowers as ‘‘master of the hounds.” Best-thought-out costume for ladies, Miss Christie as ‘‘theatre usher.” Best thought-out costume for gentleman, Mr. A. L.

Mount as ‘‘Admiral Nelson.” The prize for the waltzing competition was won by Miss D.

Stewart and Mr. C. G. Clark, who gave a spirited exhibition.

During the evening Major G. A. Harrison made a speech, in which he conveyed the best wishes of the people of Wan to Mr. and Mrs. H.

Taylour, who are going South by the ‘‘Macdhui” on a well-deserved holiday. Mr. H. Taylour.

Mining Warden, will be very much missed, and we hope, after a good holiday, he and his wife will be in our midst again.

New Year Sports.

The Bulolo Recreation Club held a sports meeting on the Cricket Ground at Wau on January 2. There were many visitors present from Salamaua, Lae, Edie Creek and Bulolo.

Horse and motor bicycle races were held. Foot races, tug-of-war, hop, step and jump, and other sports took place. The centre of attraction was the horse racing wheel, on which the sporting crowd tried their luck during the day.

Personal.

Mr. and Mrs. R. Dugan are leaving Wau by ’plane for Port Moresby to catch the ‘‘Macdhui,” and will be away for a few months.

Mrs. Drayton and her small son, Peter, are going South. We will be pleased to see them back again in Wau.

The manager of Edie Creek Alluvial, Mr. J.

P. Livingstone, will go South soon on a health trip.

Miss Josephs, matron of Wau hospital, has been kept busy lately. Mr. T. Flowers, who was operated on recently, has now recovered, and Mr. E. Bartlett, who has been in hospital with malaria, is on his way to recovery.

Prospectors Murdered.

Alarm was felt in the district when news came through of the murder of W. Naylor, a Swede named Clarius, and nine native labourers.

The party was prospecting on the headwaters of the Langamar River.

D.O. Townsend and a strong police party went to investigate immediately on receipt of the news, which was conveyed by a native who had been employed by Naylor,