Papua Oil Development Co,

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Aug. 25.

THE staff of the Papua Oil Development Co., who arrived in the Territory in July, have begun work in earnest. Two additional members of the staff arrived by the Montoro on August 7.

Messrs. L. W. Myers and J. D. Hanley, surveyors who, together with Mr. A.

Robertson, chief gravity surveyor, will form the first field party to go to the large oil concession the company have secured in Western Papua.

The party has already set off with Mr.

P. R. Hinds, a well-known resident of Papua, who on account of his knowledge of the Western District has been engaged as transport officer for the company The party left Port Moresby for Daru on August 23, in the auxiliary ketch Palma, 13 tons, which arrived in Port Moresby from Townsville on August 19, chartered by the Papua Oil Development Co. for use in Papua. A native crew has been put on board and Captain Keyes and his crew will return by the Montoro.

A much larger vessel is to arrive shortly for the company’s operations, manned by a Malay crew. Approximately 18 months will be spent establishing a permanent base on the Fly River, from where field parties will set forth to examine the oil prospects of this vast area.

Mr. E. Bland in charge of the com pany’s operations, in Papua, is at present in Port Moresby. The company have acquired offices in Douglas St., Port Moresby.