London

Leahy Brothers In

Challenge to Jack Hides

Messrs michael and j. l. leahy, well-known as New Guinea prospec tors, and explorers, appear to have been busy in London lately. On November 21, Mr. M. Leahy gave a lecture before the Royal Geographical Society, on tribal cus toms in Central New Guinea, illustrated with cinema films.

It has been reported that the Leahy brothers will be associated with a British semi-scientific expedition, that is coming out to New Guinea next year, to carry out an exploration in Central New Guinea.

Meanwhile, many people have been puzzled by the following statement in the London “Evening News”: Mr. Michael Leahy and his brother, Mr. J. L. Leahy, in tend to challenge, the claim of Mr. Jack Hides to the exploration of 7000 square miles of Papua. Mr. M. Leahy claims that two 13,000 feet mountains, described by Mr.

Hides, do not exist. “We shall place all our proofs before the Royal Geographical So ciety,” said Mr. Leahy.

Mr. Hides’s exploration was carried out at the southern end of the central table land, while Messrs. Leahy operated at the northern end. There is no doubt that Mr.

Hides explored new country; and Mr. Hides did not in any way challenge the claims of the Leahy brothers. No one can under stand the ill-feeling displayed towards Mr.

Hides by Messrs. Leahy, both in Australia and London. It would almost appear that Messrs. Leah# thought they had established a monopoly of New Guinea exploration.