Better Times

Optimism in Papua

From a Correspondent.

Port Moresby, March 1.

TIMES are beginning to mend and everybody here is very optimistic, compared with the feeling that had been displayed during the past four years. If the copra market will only hold, Papua will again become quite an attractive place in which to make a living.

Steamships Trading Co., Ltd., recently purchased from Mr. J. Downs a half-share of the Delta sawmill and store at Kikori.

Mr. Downs had been far from well, and has been ordered South by his doctor. The business was floated into a company (Sawmillers and Traders, Ltd.), and Steamships Trading Co. are the managing agents, and hold half the shares. This is a growing and prosperous business.

Steamships Trading Company Ltd., have purchased outright, from Mr. Geoffrey Syme, of the “Age,” Melbourne, the New Guinea Rubber Estates, at Kemp Welch, in Papua. This plantation consists of 2283 acres, of which 625 acres are of fully-bear

ing coconuts, and 70 acres of rubber.

Mr. C. N. Nicholson, the present man ager, will continue in that capacity under the new management.

The same company are opening on Mi sima (where there is now much mining activity), having a fine corner block in the newly laid-out town there. The build ings are about half-way completed.

The company purchased, two months ago, the “Kikere,” to add to their fishing and shelling fleet at Samarai, where they have seven vessels operating. A thorough overhaul of the “Kikere” having now been completed, she will shortly be put to fish ing beche-de-mer, and will carry 21 boys and six dinghies.