Flood Damage

At Edie Creek

A published letter from Wau, New Guinea, gives a vivid description of a cloudburst which occurred there on De cember 28.

“The water came down the Edie Creek as a solid wall, carrying away much valuable plant. Tremendous damage was done further down, where Edie Creek joins the Bulolo River. There claims were simply gouged out to a depth of 20ft.

At other places claims are covered with great boulders, the stones being piled up high. One claim in particular will require four months’ work to get down to the working surface again. The plant has been washed away, lock, stock, and barrel.

Landslides have taken place, carrying away part of the road to Edie Creek.

“The night of the cloudburst there was also a ’quake, which loosened up the ground. Thousands of tons of ground was shot down into Edie Creek and carried away into the Bulolo River.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done to mining property.”

For further details of flood damage at mines in the Morobe goldfields area, see the Mining Warden’s report on page 72.

The Melanesian Mission training school for native clergy has been transferred from Siota on Florida Island, B.S.I., to Maka on Malaita. Siota will now be used as a training centre for native teachers.