Transport by Narrow-Track Lorry.

Wau To Edie Creek.

THE country around Edie Creek, in the New Guinea goldfields, is so wild and broken that, so far, it has not been possible to construct an aero drome; therefore, Edie Creek cannot get its supplies through the wonderful ser vice of New Guinea Airways, Ltd.

In consequence, to maintain communi cation, the various interests concerned have constructed, from Wau to Edie Creek, a distance of twenty-four miles, a formed road or track, six feet wide.

For a time transport was carried on along this track by native carriers and by a number of mules which were im ported; but in more recent times an enterprising man has commenced trans port by lorry. He has put a powerful motor-engine into a specially con structed chassis with a narrow track and is regularly transporting goods— sometimes weighing up to half a ton — through the wild, mountainous country from Wau to Edie Creek.

The interests chiefly concerned, with the assistance of the Administration, have now arranged to widen the road, so as to give greater facilities for motor transport. The development will be very welcome.

Travellers recently in this region de clared that their hair rose when they saw the track of the narrow gauge motor-lorry within two inches of the edge of the road, and -hanging over sheer precipices of terrifying depth.