N.G. Auto Club Meet On

Historic Spot

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, May 21.

THE Automobile Club of New Guinea held its first competition run on Saturday last. It consisted of a speed-guessing contest on the average speed attained during the run from Rabaul to Kokopo; and was won by B. Phibbs, who guessed 23 m.p.h. The actual speed was 23.6.

At the commencement of the run the vice-presi dent, Mr. P. Coote, in the absence of the president (Mr. E. Featherstone Phibbs) outlined in a few words the rules of the competition, and mentioned also some of the aims of the club.

Mrs. Coote was then called upon to cut the ribbon, which was stretched across Casuarina Avenue, where the cars were assembled, and im mediately afterwards was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Dr. Brennan’s two charming little girls.

After a short call at the Kokopo Hotel, cars moved off to the Bitapaka Road and assembled at the spot where the first Australian was killed in the war (Able-Seaman W. G. V. Williams, on September 11, 1914). This place is little known, and it was with the idea of bringing it before the eyes of the public—both in the Territory and in Australia —that the Club determined on this his torical spot as a rendezvous for its first run.

The hope was expressed that it would be pos sible to erect a small memorial there.