Gallant Officer.

Mr. Ian Mack Killed by Kukukukus.

MR. IAN MACK, Assistant District Officer of the Morobe District, died in Salamaua Hospital on June 18 from arrow wounds received in an encounter with natives of the Upper Ramu on June 11.

Mr. Mack was leading a patrol near the Papuan border when a savage attack was launched on it by Kukukukus —who are suspected of the murder of the prospector Baum, since whose death they have always given trouble. Mr. Mack’s party had arrested six prisoners at Triora village and was bringing them back; but they escaped from the camp one night only to be killed by enemies at Kainautu as they passed the village. One survived and Mr. Mack with three police boys was trailing him; but, on reaching Triora, found the force opposed to him too strong and was compelled to retire.

It is believed that he received his fatal wounds at Kainautu on the way back.

Mr. Mack was regarded as being the most promising of the junior officers of the Administration and had the repu tation of being one of the best bush men in the Territory, having opened up considerable new country in the Bainings, where he did fine work after the Nakonai murders. The tragedy serves to prove the urgent necessity for an inter-island seaplane service, a scheme which lately has received the strong support of the Administration.

Ministers Statement.

Referring to the death of Mr. Ian Mack, the Minister for Territories (Mr.

Marr) said that he extended, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, its deepest sympathy to Mr. Mack’s mother.

“I met Mr. Mack,” said Mr. Marr, “during my recent visit at his post, only a few miles from where the ambush took place, and he was typical of the men in the Service in the Man dated Territories —young, keen, re sourceful, and efficient, and of a pleasing personality.

“He received his wounds leading his few constables in a heroic charge against a blockhouse and overwhelm ing numbers with a gallantry and dis regard for personal safety which in the late war would have gained him the highest honour. He served and died for Australia as truly as any member of the A.I.F., and in doing so has proved that the qualities which spread the fame of the Anzacs through out the world still exists in the younger

generation.”

MISS CHEESMAN, a noted English entomolgist and zoologist attached to the British Museum, arrived by the “Montoro” on April 14, and, after a few days in Port Moresby, travelled by ’plane to Kokoda, the new landing site in the interior of Papua, where she in tends to start her collection.

Miss Cheesman recently spent eighteen months in the New Hebrides, where she collected 18,000 specimens, many of which were completely unknown to scientists.