New Guinea Goldfields

Notes

From Our Own Correspondent.

EDIE CK., April 2.

EARLY in March our much-needed Government Medical Assistant arrived in the person of Mr. S. A. P. (“Toby”) Clarke. “Toby” has been “slimming” lately, but already agrees that the mountains of Kaindi will make this quite un necessary now. Mr. Clarke’s acquaintance with New Guinea dates back at least 12 years or more.

This is his first visit to Edie Creek. There are, as is usual in fine weather, some dysentery cases amongst the native labourers, but the outbreak is mild.

Over a dozen boys were before the court last month for theft and consumption of liquor. Before the cases are completely heard it is expected that at least a score of natives will be involved. Edie Store was the biggest victim and it is reported that over £30 worth of “grog” has already been recovered. On the goldfields the number of native “drink” cases is increasing, some say due to the lenient sentences given.

Members of the local R.S.S.I.L.A. feel very proud that their appeal to the Administrator to make Anzac Day a public holiday was successful. The motion concerning Anzac Day was passed at the Wau meeting after being dealt with by the Kaindi Committee. The celebrations are to be held in Wau. Much to the disappointment of the Diggers (who intended giving him a smoke concert) the Administrator did not visit Edie Creek on his recent tour.

N.G.G. Ltd., are almost daily adding to their staff here, and their labour line is around 600 natives. It is expected that their head office will be removed from Wau to Edie Creek within a few months, thereby considerably increasing our popu lation and importance. Buildings about Central Camp are increasing rapidly, and the battery site is taking shape.

Our “big gun” tributor, Russ Wild, picked up a 35oz. and a 10oz. slug the other day. His washup for the day, including these slugs, was in the vicinity of 80oz. This 35oz. slug is the biggest slug (not specimen) so far found in the Edie Creek.

On March 30, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury gave a “Back to Childhood” dinner party at their home on the Hill to celebrate the coming of age of Mr. Darcy Walden. Like all the Kingsbury’s parties, it was a credit to the host and hostess and a great success.

Glorious English Spring weather lasted almost throughout March. The nights were very cold, almost frosty. It is certain that if the invigor ating climate were more widely known, many visitors from the Coast and adjacent Islands would be drawn to this part of the Territory.

Mr. George W. Sneddon, formerly Dis trict Scout Commissioner at Suva, Fiji, was married at the Methodist Jubilee Church, Suva, to Miss Gwendolyn Mc- Donald, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. R. L.

McDonald, of Suva, on April 15. The couple sailed for their new home in Australia by the Mariposa on April 17.

Dr. C. A. Courtney, a prominent Vic torian medical officer, arrived in Sydney in April to embark by the Malaita for the Santa Cruz Group, Solomon Islands.

He will be stationed at Vanikoro for the Vanikoro Kauri Timber Co. Pty., Ltd.