Late News

Sydney, May 20.

MAILS from Papua, New Guinea and Fiji which have reached us on May 20, just as we go to press, contain much interesting Islands news. The following is a brief summary.

An experienced mining engineer who recently visited Fiji told a “P.I.M.” representative that there easily might be 2000 men working on the Fiji goldmines within a short time.

The new goldfields road from Wau to Edie Creek (New Guinea) is open. The first motor traffic used it on Anzac Day.

It is described as “a god-send.” Head quarters of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. are now at Edie Creek, and it is rapidly “becoming an important centre.

Much damage was done by a flood in the Edie and Merri Creeks on the night of April 15.

The King’s Jubilee was celebrated with much impressive ceremonial on May 6 at the Islands centres, notably Suva, Rabaul, and Port Moresby.

Papuan planters and merchants are urging the Administration to agitate for the removal of the Australian primage duty. (See article on page 9.) Mrs. Martha Aston, died in Samarai hospital on April 30, at the age of 77.

She was closely connected with mission ary enterprise in the Pacific, and was greatly loved for her personal qualities.

The managing director of the Kwato Mission, Samarai, has sent for publica tion (now to appear in June issue) a notable reply to various criticism recently directed against the mission’s commercial activities.

The March report of the Warden of the Morobe goldfield (New Guinea) indicates further rapid progress on the field. Gold and silver exported in March were worth £132,495 (Australian).

The foundation stone of a new Masonic temple was laid in Rabaul on April 25.

His Honour Chief Judge D. S. Wanliss, of New Guinea, has left the territory on four months’ furlough, which he will spend in Australia.

Captain Kendrick, who has been some time in Port Moresby, is impressed with the possibilities of the auriferous country near the Brown River, within 150 miles of Pt. Moresby. He is urging a geo logical survey.

Good reports have been received of dredging progress by the Tiveri Co. in the Lakekamu district, Papua. Gold yields are satisfactory.

The Fiji sugar output for 1935 promises to surpass that for 1934. The export for 1934 was 104,000 tons, valued at £868,438.

The estimate for 1935 is around 123,000 tons.

Personal Notes From Fiji

Mr. H. H. Hemus, supervising inspector for Messrs. A. B. Donald, joined the Niagara at Auck land, and after a brief stay in Suva in May, at tending to the affairs of the company, returned to New Zealand by the Monterey.

Mr. D. M. Deane, a mining engineer, left Sydney recently for Suva by the Niagara. Mr. Deane represents the Sukulaki Gold Development Co.

N.L., which was registered in Melbourne. The company has a lease of a block at Tavua, miles east of the Emperor mine. It is the com pany’s intention to commence operations imme diately, and Mr. Dean has three mining men with him. He is very confident about the future pros pects of the goldfield. He considers that, though the mining laws of the colony are still in their infancy, the recent Government legislation to

control more strictly the issuing of prospecting licences is a step in the right direction.

Mr, A. G. Campbell returned to Suva on the Niagara in May, and proceeded straight to Tavua, where he made further investigations for a private client. He returned to Australia on the Monterey, thoroughly satisfied with the work he had com pleted.

Mr. C. A. Barden returned to Suva at the be ginning of May, after an absence of ten years.

He resumed duty at the cable station, Suva, after having been in Vancouver, Fanning Island, and Auckland for his company.

Sir Henry and Lady Marks returned to Suva at the beginning of May on the Niagara, accom panied by their daughter, Mrs. M. V. Abel.

Mr. H. J. S. Allen, Collector of Customs at Lautoka, returned to Suva by the Niagara in May.

He was accompanied by his wife and two daugh ters.

Mr. E. J. Pratt returned to Lautoka on May 4, after spending his leave in New Zealand. He was accompanied by his wife, his sister (Miss A.

Pratt) and his daughter Peggy.

Mr. R. M. Boyd, who represents the well known Australian stockbrokers, Messrs. J. B.

Were and Co., has been visiting Fiji, and returns on the Monterey. He is a reticent man, but it is believed that he thinks well of Fiji’s gold-mining possibilities.

Mr. R. H. Norman, of the Orient Line, has been in Suva, making arrangements for adequately en tertaining those who take “luxury cruises to Fiji.”

Mr. Julius Blau, well-known Sydney business man, is in Suva at present, staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel, The Governor of Tahiti returned to France by the Cephee early in May.