Fifty Years In Papua.

Mr. A. C.English

THE name of A. C. English has been closely associated with Papua since the earliest days when anything was known of the Territory.

Born in England in 1863, Mr. English left home at the age of eighteen, and arrived in Sydney in 1881. For two years he was engaged in collecting Natural History specimens for the Aus tralian Museums, and in 1883 was per suaded to try his luck in the then un known island of New Guinea. He landed at Karepuna on June 23, 1883, and since that date has closely identi fied himself with Papua, and with the Karepuna district in particular.

At the time of his arrival there was no settlement in New Guinea, and the natives were left to their own blood thirsty devices —except for such in effectual control as was attempted by the two white missionaries who had ar

rived ten years earlier. One or two traders navigated their vessels up and down the coast, and there were occa sional visits from black-birding schooners; but, apart from these, the country was completely unknown.

Mr. English was welcomed by the natives, and made valuable collections of Natural History specimens and of native curios. He was present when Commodore Erskine hoisted the British flag at Port Moresby in 1884, and again when Dr. William McGregor formally annexed the Territory in 1889.

He was personally known to the old traders, whose names are woven into the early history of Papua—Ansell, Fryer, Minister and others, and also to each of the Administrators who have controlled the Territory since the Pro tectorate was declared.

Dr. (afterwards Sir William) Mc Gregor was not the man to let slip the opportunity of using Mr. English’s knowledge of the natives and the country. He arrived on September 4, 1888, and in November of the same year we read in the Annual Report

that Mr. English accompanied him to Chad’s Bay and rendered valuable as sistance in investigating the murder of Captain Ansell and in arresting the murderers.

In February of the following year, Mr. English was made acting Govern ment Agent at Rigo during the in capacity of Mr. George Hunter, who was suffering from a gunshot wound; and from that time he was continuously in the Government service. His name is mentioned with the deepest appre ciat.on by Sir William McGregor as well as by Judge Winter, Sir George He Hunte, and Captain Barton. But in those early days the conditions in Papua, the hardship of travel and the demands made upon civil servants were such as are difficult to realise in these comparatively settled times, and in May, 1907, Mr. English decided that he had had enough, and resigned from the service.

He settled at Rigo, in the district where he was already so well known and so deeply respected; and he is still planting, trading and collecting within a few miles of the spot where he first landed in the Territory 50 years ago.

With Mr. English at Rigo are his wife, a son and two daughters, whose warm hospitality, added to his genial personality, his fund of anecdote, shrewd humour and accumulated wisdom, proves an irresistible magnet to all who pass that way.

Younger in all essentials than most men of forty, his many friends con fidently hope to see him enjoy many more years of health and happiness in the Territory which he has served so long and so well.