Fred. Deckert’S

“Bitza.”

(By Sheila Lane in Sydney “Sun”.)

FORTY miles into the interior of New Guinea, a “bitza” motor lorry daily climbs 4,000 feet along a 14 mile bush track.

It is the first motor car to carry cargo and passengers from Wau, the depot of the New Guinea goldfields, to Edie Creek, now world famed.

Praise for this feat has been justly earned by a plucky young Australian, Fred. J. Deckert, 24 years old, whose fine physique and quick brain have gained him a reputation for the pioneering courage which has put Edie Creek on the map.

Mr. Deckert is a skilled motor driver and mechanic. Before he tried his luck in New Guinea he drove a motor lorry loaded with wool from South Australia to Victoria, then afterwards he would travel up as far as Broken Hill.

With engine, carburettor, radiator, gear-box, and steering wheel all from different makes, is it any wonder that this car has been called Deckert’s “Bitza”? This conglomeration of parts was assembled under Mr. Deckert’s own supervision at Bradley Bros., Sydney, shipped fully assembled to Salamaua, where it was taken by one of New Guinea Airways’ Junkers ’planes to Wau.

As it was unloaded from the ’plane, still fully assembled, Mr. Deckert’s “boy” filled up the tanks, and the car was then driven off the aerodrome.

First trip from Wau to Edie Creek was made on April 16, 1933. On this oc casion, Mr. Dawson and Mr. Les Simp son were the passengers who dared the perilous ride. On one side there is the sheer mountain wall, on the other side of the track—a drop of hundreds of feet.

Some of the bends are so sharp that it takes a considerable amount of backing and pulling of the wheels before the lorry can get around. As the track is mostly red mud, one slip of the chained wheels would prove fatal. To cope with the narrowness of the track a special wheelbase of three feet has been con structed, then the wheels just fit from mountain wall to track edge.

Since April 16 of this year, 84 trips have been made and 70 passengers (35 in first month) have been carried up, down, or up and down the rugged moun tain track.

A steam-boiler weighing 18cwt., the property of a well-known prospector, Mr. A. F. Dixon, has been the heaviest load of cargo up to date. Cargo included all types of mining machinery, building material, European and native foodstuffs.

Two complete trips, that is, two return trips, is the maximum for a hard day’s work, and the nerve-racking strain is very severe.

Three women have ridden up to the Creek in this motor lorry. Two of them —Mrs. Hadley and Mrs. Cresswell—are wives of prospectors on the field.

Previous to the arrival of the lorry, mules and horses conveyed the cargo, but in comparison their carrying capa

city and speed are inferior. Owing to the climb being so strenuous, the animals quickly become lean and tired, so that they have to be turned out to rest very often for a long “spell”.

Of course, there are pessimists the world over and Wau can boast a few.

“Deckert’s Folly,” they called the lorry.

They said it was impossible to get a motor lorry through to the Creek. But, as in most things, will-power, pluck, and the right man did the job.

And so another page had been added to the great history of the New Guinea goldfields.