Papuan News
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
Federal Grant Increased to £42,300
From Our Own Correspondent.
Pt. Moresby, Dec. 23.
THE Papuan Administration has been advised by the Commonwealth Government that the Federal grant for the financial year 1934-35 towards the cost of the administration of the Territory is £42,500. This sum represents £2500 in excess of the grant for the previous year, and the same amount in excess of the estimated receipts in the 1934-35 Papuan estimates.
It had been hoped that the grant would be restored to £50,000 at which it stood in 1928-29.
The most drastic reduction occurred in 1932-33, when the grant dropped as low as £34,000. In 1929-30 it was £42,000, and in 1930-31 and 1931-32, £45,000 and £40,000, respectively.
It seems a pity that the amount of this grant cannot be fixed over a term of years, so as to eliminate the annually recurring period of anxiety and uncertainty which the Treasurer has to face.
Sportsmen For Wau
A team of thirteen or more sportsmen will leave Port Moresby on December 30 and fly over the central range to try out the Wau teams at cric ket and tennis.
Dexter Giblin, the 16-year-old son of our medico, is home from his Sydney school for the Christmas holidays, and will take part in the cricket match.
Both as batsman and fast bowler, as well as in the field, he has displayed much skill.
Lakekamu Leases
Mr. Nason Jones has applied for further dredging areas amounting in the aggregate to 1500 acres on the Lakekamu goldfields; and Mr. P. D. Rad cliffe, who is associated with him, has also applied for an area of 7200 acres.
Drilling operations are proceeding satisfactorily oyer the large areas already under lease, and high hopes are entertained of a big success.
Fatal Snake Bite
A native servant at Government House, Port Moresby, was bitten by a snake when hurrying across the Government House grounds late on the evening of December 20, on his way to his village. He was bitten on the foot, one of the poison fangs penetrating a vein, and although rushed immediately to the hospital, he died in less than two hours.
This is the second Government House servant to die from a snake bite within the last few months. Black snakes are numerous in Port Moresby district, and seem to be particularly poisonous at this time of the year.
A Happy Event
In the Port Moresby Hospital, in the morning of December 22, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Grant wel comed a Christmas present in the shape of a small daughter. Mr. Grant, as manager of the local branch of the Bank of New South Wales, has made himself respected and liked by all mem bers of the community, who extend hearty con gratulations to the happy parents.
Moresby Landing Ground
In view of the increasing number and size of the ’planes flying between here and Wau, plans are being considered for the preparation of a new and larger landing ground.
The site under consideration lies on the north side of the road from Port Moresby to Rouna, and about three and a half miles from the town, and offers several advantages over the present site in its greater extent, in less liability to flooding in wet weather, and in a better approach by road.
Into Unknown Papua
Mr. Jack Hides, accompanied by Mr. J.
O’Malley, left Port Moresby on December 10 on special patrol to the headwaters of the Strickland River and thence across quite unknown country to the upper reaches of the Purari. His route lies east of that by which Karius descended the Strickland in 1927 from its source to its junction with the Fly.
Mr. Hides will have to make his way through the dreaded limestone belt, where the surface re tains no water, streams run underground, and where carriers are lamed and the stoutest boots cut to pieces by the knife-like edges of coral-lime stone. It is anticipated that a large native popu
lation will be found to the north of the limestone area, where supplies of native foods will help to solve the difficult problem of transport.
Success Of Larvae-Eating Fish
The usual plague of mosquitoes in Port Moresby is very much reduced this year owing to the ener getic efforts of Dr. W. E. Giblin and his staff.
Gambusia affinis, the diminutive fish which live on the larvae of mosquitoes, have been introduced to every swamp and watercourse in the district, and close attention has been given to drainage and general cleanliness with the result that life is much less intolerable than it usually is in the north-west season. It is hoped that in two or three years’ time mosquitoes will be unknown near the capital.