Papuan Notes

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Feb. 22.

CO heavy was the rain that fell in a sudden kJ and fierce downpour on the evening of January 25, that throughout the township of Port Moresby deep holes and tissues were cut along the roadsides where the gutters were unable to carry away the volume of water. At one point of the town many tons of earth and stone were deposited. At another where the torrent of water was too much for a drain, half an embankment was swept away.

Another result of the sudden rainfall was a serious dislocation of the telephone service. The main underground cable running along Port road was badly damaged, with the result that 50 lines were disconnected. The Public Works Depart ment was immediately on the spot the following Monday morning, and in a few days, the main damage was repaired.

Cattle For Giligili Estate

On February 7, the Kurimarau from the Solo mon Islands put into Samarai, with cattle for Giligili Plantation, Lever Bros.* large concern in the eastern end of Papua. From Samarai she proceeded to Milne Bay, where the plantation is situated. After discharging her cargo, she left the following day on her return journey,

Revenue Increased By £5,006

Treasury statements for the half year to De cember 31 last show an increase in revenue, compar-td with the corresponding period of 1934, of £3,j°6; 1934 receipt s being £69,509 and 1935, £74,515. Principal increases were shown in Customs, Import Duties, sale of stamps, and Government plantation receipts. Decreases were shown in Primage Duty and Mining Receipts.

Expenditure increased by £2,sl7—nearly all of which was accounted for by expenditure on the Native Armed Constabulary and in the Medical Department. Credit Balance on Consolidated Revenue account at December 31, was £2,709

compared with £B3 for the same period of last year.

The Public Debt of the Territory, due to the Commonwealth Government, stood at £63,148.

Balance of Trust Fund was £58,485 and Insurance Fund, £16,857.

Van Rees Goes Direct To N.G.

The K.P.M. steamer Van Rees from Saigon to Rabaul direct, is due in Port Moresby on March 3, and will leave the same day for Port Vila, Noumea and Sydney, where she is due to arrive on March 18. It is reported that the direct voyage to Rabaul was for the present trip only, and was arranged for a large shipment of rice to New Guinea.

Personal Notes

Father Tomlinson, of the Roman Catholic Mission at Sideia, in the east of Papua, was re cently brought into Samarai, suffering from a severe attack of black water fever. He was immediately admitted to hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Williams are at present in the Trobriand Islands, where Mr. Williams is making a study of anthropological and archaeo logical remains in North Kiriwina.

Mr. G. Dyer, in charge of Guinea Gold N.L. operations on the Lakekamu goldfield, paid a flying visit to Port Moresby in Guinea Airways’

Junker on February 14. He returned by 'plane after a few days to Wau, via Bulldog landing ground.

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Loudon, who have been in Port Moresby on a short visit, returned to their plantation at Eilogo on February 18, after seeing off their children for school in New South Wales, by the Montoro on February 11.

The Acting Administrator, the Hon. Dr. Walter M. Strong, M.D., returned to Port Moresby on the Laurabada after an extended visit to the West of Papua, on February 4. His Excellency was accompanied by His Honour Mr. Justice Gore and the Official Secretary, Hon. H. L.

Murray.

The Government Secretary to the Territory of Papua, Hon. H. W. Champion, C.8.E., returned

from leave by the Macdhui on February 6 and has assumed control of the Territory as Acting Lieutenant Governor, relieving Dr. Strong.

Mrs. C. T. Wurth, wife of the Chief Magistrate of the Territory, returned by the last Macdhui from Queensland where for several months she has been under medical treatment.