Papuan Census.

White Population Has Decreased.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Port Moresby, Sept. 2.

THE census of the Territory of Papua, taken on 30th June last under the direction of the Commonwealth Statistician, has been completed and shows a decrease of 137 in the Euro pean population compared with 12 years ago (the last Commonwealth census was in 1921).

European population was 1,131 on June 30 last —671 males and 460 females.

In 1921, the European population was 1,268.

The population of Port Moresby, in cluding Koki, Granville East, and the London Mission was 368 (207 males and 161 females).

At Samarai, including the whole island and residents within a radius of 10 miles, there were 214 Europeans (116 males and 98 females).

The population of coloured non indigenous people and halfcastes has increased since 1921. The figures for last June were 1,051, as compared with 798 in 1921.

EDITORIAL NOTE.—The foregoing may give a wrong impression. Twelve years ago, there was at least one big mine working in Papua, and primary production was booming. Since 1930, the planting industry in Papua, in common with other countries, has suffered cruelly from the depression, and there probably has bean an exodus, in consequence, of a couple of hundred Europeans. The Territory actually has made much progress since 1921. It is only now be ginning to reap, from the gold boom, some of the benefits which New Guinea began to enjoy six or seven years ago.

A copra-cutting contest held at Pago Pago on Flag Day, April 21. A group of Samoans competing in cutting copra. This contest aroused a great deal of enthusiasm, and disclosed a large amount of skill.