By March Macdhui

THE B.P. liner Malaita left Sydney for Papua and New Guinea on March 14, with a full complement of passengers. Her skipper was the cheery Captain A. Campbell, who recently took over command from Captain Williams, after many years of service with Burns, Philp and Co. As Chief Officer of the Macdhui, Mr, Campbell became a well-known figure in both Territories, where he is well-liked and highly respected.

The passengers included many prominent Islands folk. Geoffrey Hemsworth, Ray Parer’s companion in the Centenary Air Race, returned to Port Moresby from whence he will fly over to the Morobe goldfield to take charge again of P.A.T Co.’s activities. Brigadier-General A. E. Wisdom, formerly Administrator of New Guinea, was on his way to Papua, where he will look over the various areas taken up by goldmining companies in which he is actively interested.

Mr. J. Ward-Williams, American mining expert, returned to Papua to carry out investigations in the Fly River district. Wally Digby, well-known N.G. prospector and one of the finders of the rich Day Dawn mine, was en route to Morobe to supervise his gold interests, after furlough in Australia.

Father F. Lyons, accompanied by Brothers Pearce and Vogt, left for the Sacred Heart Mission at Saraarai.

Mr. Moresby Gofton, popular son of Mrs. Stewart, of Wau hotel, reluctantly said “good-bye” to Syd ney, after three months’ holidaying. On a tour of inspection of the Sacred Heart Mission stations was Rev. Father Janssen, Superior-General of the Mis sion. Mr. G. V. Maunsell-Turner, of the N.G.

Crown Law Office, returned to Rabaul, after leave in Australia.

On behalf of Misima United N.L., Mr. A. A.

Hargreaves, consulting engineer, left for Misima Island to superintend the preliminary work in con nection with the option his company recently exer cised over four leases there. Captain D. G. Irvine, of W. R. Carpenter and Co., departed for Rabaul, where he will pick up the schooner “France,” and sail her across to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Rev. Maurice Nixon, L.M.S. Missionary, re turned to Port Moresby, en route to Moru Station, after furlough in Tasmania. Dr. W. M, Strong, Chief Medical Officer of Papua, also was a passen ger for Port Moresby. With him were 18 Papuan medical students, who have been undergoing train ing at Sydney University to fit them for medical work among Papuan natives. The students, neatly dressed in Scout uniform, created considerable in terest among the large congregation which had gathered on the wharf to bid farewell to friends.

Among the deck cargo were three draught horses, a pony, two rams, and a small bleating goat, all for Salamaua. On board also was a ferocious looking boar consigned to Wewak. For Sunshine Gold Development Co., a new sturdy Ford lorry was taken aboard. A trim 27-ft. launch, the ‘Pap con,” fitted by Mr. G. Rutherford, of Sydney, with a 15 h.p. Kelvin engine, was shipped for Papuan Concessions N.L., for use on the Fly River.