New Guinea Notes.

From a Special Correspondent.

Rabaul, May 21.

Mr. And Mrs. Vertigan Pro

ceeded on leave by the May “Mac dhui.” Mr. Vertigan has been stationed at Buka Passage for the past six months and was relieved by Mr.

I. D. Lyon.

The marriage has been announced of Johanna Therese, daughter of the late R. R. and Mrs. Parkinson, of Rabaul, to Captain H. T. Messenger, of Guild ford, England. The ceremony took place on April 13.

Preparations are well in hand for organising the various committees for entertaining the officers and crew of the German cruiser “Koln,” which is due to arrive at Rabaul on June 6.

The finals in the tennis tournament were finished last week. In the ladies’ doubles Mrs. Britten and Mrs. Galla gher played Misses D. Burston and P. Bryant, which resulted in a win for the latter —6-4, 6-2. In the semi finals of the mixed doubles, Mr. Mac kay and Miss D. Burston played Mr.

Laugher and Mrs. Robinson, the for mer winning—3-6, 6-5, 6-2 and in consequence of the absence of Mrs.

Anderson, the winners of the semifinals had a “walk-over” and won the finals from Mr. Wallace and Mrs.

Anderson, who forfeited.

Mr. W. F. Gill, local inspector of B.P., who has been spending some time in the Kieta district, returned to Rabaui by the “Macdhui.”

Mr. A. M. Turnbull, plantation in spector of the C.P.L. and other allied companies, has recently made a tour of the companies’ properties, with Mr.

A. H. Gauld, New Guinea plantation inspector, and returned to Sydney by the last “Macdhui.” Mr. Turnbull was favourably impressed with the condi tions of the majority of the properties.

Mr. F. Hambridge, chairman of direc tors of the New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd., joined the “Macdhui” at Salamaua, and was a passenger for Sydney.

Rev. Father Brosnahan, S.M., who has been attached to the Marist Mission in Kieta for the last few years, returned to Sydney by the last “Macdhui.”

Father Brosnahan has been in indiffer ent health lately.

Inspector Richards, of the Cus todian’s Office, has been engaged on making a thorough survey of the late expropriated estates in the Kieta dis trict, and returned to Rabaul by the “Macdhui.”

Mr. Paton, manager of Enus plan tation, has returned from his holiday south, and has taken over the manage ment of the estate from Mr. Paul Mason, who now returns to the Solo mons.

Residents in the Kieta district were grieved to hear of the death of the Rev. Father McHardy, who left here some time ago to receive medical at tention in Sydney. Father McHardy was for some months an inmate of the Lewisham Hospital, and later was transferred to his .homeland, New

Zealand, where he died on May 17.

The Father was greatly respected and was a true friend to the residents of the Kieta district.

The “Maiwara” has departed for her annual overhaul in Brisbane and will call at Buka and Bougainville ports en route. Captain Meldrum is in charge of the ship which will return in about five or six weeks.

Rabaul welcomed another prospective bride, Miss Kelly, when the last “Mon toro” made port. The happy man is Mr.

F. Egan, manager for the Shell Oil Com pany here. The nuptial ceremony is fixed for April 22.

Mr. P. J. Martin, who for several years has been an energetic commercial -

ist in the Kavieng district, has now transferred his interests to the Duke of York group of islands, having purchased the Mioko-Makada properties, with their subsidiary trading stations, from Mr. R.

Moore.

Mr. and Mrs. L. P. S. Hore, of Kavi eng, arrived in Rabaul recently and will

proceed to the East (which is really our north) for a holiday by the E. and A. liner “Tanda” this week.

Our popular A.D.O., Mr. J. H. Jones, departed for Kavieng by the last “Mon toro,” where he will be stationed for some time in order to assist in making investigations into various charges re garding the native labour situation in that district. Reports from this area re cently have been very disquieting, and the European population are eager for the Administration to adopt a firmer at titude towards natives who commit breaches of the peace. If the complaints made by the Europeans are substanti ated (and there seems little likelihood of this not being possible) then it is high time some definite action was taken to enforce a stricter discipline amongst the native labourers and en sure a greater feeling of safety amongst the white community.

It is with deep regret that we record the death of Mrs. Ward Oakley, which occurred on April 3 at Aitape, where her husband is District Officer. Mrs. Oakley was at all times a most popular hostess and leaves a host of sorrowing friends to mourn her passing. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved husband in his severe loss.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Munster, of Manus, are visitors to Rabaul awaiting the arrival of the “east”-bound “Tanda”, by which vessel they intend taking a holiday tour for the purpose of allowing Mrs. Munster to recuperate after her re cent illness. The well-known “Charlie” (who is one of the Territory’s pioneers) has every appearance of being in the pink of health.

Mr. J. Virtue, of Messrs. Burns, Philp’s head office, arrived by the “Montoro” and is giving the Territory the “once over”. He will remain in the Territory until the departure of the “Macdhui” in May.

Mr. Arthur Smith, of the Bank of N.S.W. staff, left for south by the last “Macdhui” and was accorded several valedictory parties by his numerous friends. Mr. Smith has always taken a keen interest in public affairs and was for some twelve months secretary of our local golf club.

A new regulation has been promul gated by the Administration that per mits will not be granted for the impor tation of either .303 rifles or cartridges, except for the specific use of the Ad ministration.

Special appreciative mention has been made by Major Marr, of the exception ally good patrol work rendered by A.A.D.O. Mack and Patrol Officers Niall and Farlow on the south coast of New Britain.

Mr. Gordon Thomas was a passenger by the last “Montoro” from south, after spending four months in Australia and New Zealand. After visiting Buka, where he has certain interests, Mr.

Thomas will return to Rabaul and take over the management of “The Rabaul Times’’ from Mr. Hoogerwerff, who is proceeding to Australia on well-earned holidays.

Great satisfaction was expressed in all quarters when it was learned that our Acting Administrator, General Griffiths, had been appointed Administrator for a period of two years. During the past few months so many rumours had been current as to possible appointees that local residents were becoming somewhat apprehensive as to the qualifications of our future Chief Executive Officer, But now all is well and Canberra has made itself popular by selecting the most suit able man for the position at such an important stage of the Territory’s life.