Headwaters

Oyer Fly River

Archbold Expedition’s First Flight in Papua

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, March 31.

VE7ITH the arrival in Port Moresby of Dr. Richard Archbold and party on March 15 in a Fairchild Amphibian from Queensland via Daru, the Archbold expedi tion has commenced its scientific investi gations in earnest Accompanied by Mr. Ivan Champion, A.R.M., and Mr. L. A. Willis (a Papuan resident who is acting as transport officer to the expedition), Dr. Archbold proceeded to Daru on March 18, arriving at noon.

Later the ’plane took off with a party for an exploratory flight over the mountain ranges at the headwaters of the Fly. Owing to his wide knowledge of the Upper Fly district, Mr. Ivan Champion was able to direct the ’plane’s movements. The flight carried them as far into the interior as the 80l (a tributary of the Fly) and over the flanks of the Dop range and beyond, where a clear view was obtained of the character of the( country for future opera tions. Throughout the flight constant com munication was kept with Daru by radio, so that their movements over this vast tract of little known Papua were followed closely.

After his return from the exploratory flight, Dr. Archbold left Port Moresby for the expedition’s base camp at Daru. Fur ther flights are contemplated early in April, when land parties will select sites for their camps along the Ply River.

The expedition, without doubt, is more comprehensively equipped than any other that has visited Papua within the last 50 years. Besides the Amphibian ’plane sup plied with parachutes, three wireless trans mitters are to be in constant use, one each for the ’plane, the land party, and the base at Daru. With these means at hand, and an excellent personal equipment, all the risks, delays and inconveniences generally associated with an expedition into the little known districts of Papua will be avoided.

That this is a matter of money can well be understood. The total cost of the expedition is reported to be estimated at £30,000, met partly by the American Natural History Museum and partly from private sources.

The outstanding feature of the expedi tion as far as transport is concerned is the parachutes, from which stores up to 100 lbs. in weight will be dropped from the ’plane to land parties in inaccessible sur roundings. The Fairchild Amphibian (named “Kono” by Dr. Archbold) is capable of carrying 10 passengers, including a crew of two, besides 1,000 lbs. of cargo. The cabins are soundproof, with shatterproof glass windows, electric lights, and ven tilating and heating ducts.

Vice-Admiral Boyle Somerville, C.M.G., who was killed by assassins at his home in Cork, Ireland, on March 25, was engaged on a life of William Charles Mariner, an Englishman who was cap tured in Tonga in 1806, and remained prisoner there for some years. Admiral Somerville was a well-known officer in the Pacific years ago, and married a daughter of the late Sir Arthur Wigram Allen, of Sydney. Not long before his death he was in communication with Mr.

Harris McCulloch, of Mosman, Mariner’s grandson.