Mt. Hagen Service
p. 68 · Read in the full issue
Ray Parer’s Aviation Plans
A new regular air service will be established shortly in New Guinea between Wau and Mount Hagen, Mr. Ray Parer told a representative of the “P.I.M.” on his arrival in Sydney by the Macdhui on June 7.
Mr. Parer said he intends to use two machines in this service to the further most point to which planes now penetrate.
Besides his own Fairey Fox machine (which is at present in Brisbane), he will use the machine in which he recently flew to New Guinea. This was purchased from Messrs. C. G. Davies and G. L. Hill, who competed in it in the Centenary Air Race.
Originally it was intended, he said, that he should fly his Fairey Fox back to New Guinea in April and Commander Davies would follow in the other machine. In Brisbane, however, Mr. Davies was infected with the tetanus germ and was for several weeks in hospital. Meanwhile, Mr.
Parer, with J. Thompson as passenger, left in Davies’ machine for Wau.
The New Guinea aviator is now on his way to Melbourne to seek permission from the Civil Aviation Department to modify Commander Davies’ plane. To give this machine greater cruising range in the Melbourne Air Race, special fuel tanks were fitted. Mr. Parer proposes to remove the extra tanks and substitute a compartment in which freight can be carried.
After completing his business in Victoria, Mr. Parer will leave for Brisbane, via Sydney. He will return to New Guinea in his Fairey Fox early in July, taking Commander Davies and his wife as passengers.
Though he had relinquished active control of the Pacific Aerial Transport Co., Ray Parer said that he still has an interest in the company and acts as technical adviser. His brother, Kevin, is now manager of P.A.T. Co.
Mr. Parer has a small sluicing “show” on the Watut River, New Guinea, and will take back with him additional machinery to develop the mine.
Mr. D. R. Robertson, managing director of Mt. Kasi Mines Ltd. (Vanua Levu), returned to Sydney by the Mariposa on June 17, after spending three months at Tavua goldfield, Fiji. He said the company’s new mill has commenced operations and is working up to expectations.