Lord Moyne’S

Yacht

Calls at Papuan Ports En Route to Rabaul and the Ramu

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Dec. 21.

ON December 15, Lord Moyne’s yacht, Rosaura, with a party on board, ar rived at Port Moresby from Singapore bound for the Mandated Territory of New Guinea to collect specimens for the British Museum, and to study anthropology. After obtaining 2,000 gallons of water, the vessel sailed the following morning for Rabaul.

Before arriving in Papua the party had spent some time travelling up the Batavia River, in Dutch New Guinea. Leaving that territory they intended to put in at Thursday Island for water, but before reaching T.I. the vessel went ashore on a sandbank. They remained stranded for 24 hours, and finally were forced to jettison a quantity of fuel oil.

Learning that, owing to a drought on Thursday Island, water was unprocurable there, Lord Moyne continued on to Daru, Papua’s western port of call. The Rosaura then proceeded past Bramble Cay to the entrance of the Purari Delta, from which visits were made up the Alele River, en trance to the large villages of the Kiriki, which lie in the labyrinth of waterways forming the greater part of the district.

Specimens of rare birds and strange curios were secured.

At Port Moresby Lord Moyne and his party, consisting of Lady Broughton and her daughter, Viscount Elveden, Mr. An thony Chaplin (a representative of the British Museum), and Mrs. Chaplin, were entertained by the Acting Governor (Dr.

Walter M. Strong).

Originally, it had been intended to spend a few weeks along the Eastern Papuan coast, calling at Samarai and the Trobriand Islands, but it was decided that in order to get more water quickly the vessel should go direct to Rabaul, as soon as possible.

The party will later visit the N.G. gold fields, and then go on up the Ramu River in the two large cabin-cruisers, which they carry on the yacht.

It was reported from London a few weeks ago that Messrs. Leahy Brothers had assisted to organise the expedition and would accompany the yacht; but they do not appear to be aboard. Possibly, they intend to join the expedition in Northern New Guinea.