Coinage

N.G. Natives Take to New Coinage

From a Special Correspondent

Rabaul, Aug. 6.

THHE Territory’s new coinage has been x accepted without comment by the natives.

Prior to European occupation of the country native shell money was always strung in bundles of from 10 to 15 pieces.

This custom had much to commend it, as it ensured safety. It can be easily under stood that the natives welcomed the change from money which was difficult to handle to the present coins which have a hole in the centre.

Up to June 30, shillings to the value of over £72,000 had been put into cir culation, sixpences to the value of £1,450, and threepences to the value of £950.

The face value of coinage minted was: shillings, £75,000; sixpences, £10,000; threepences, £15,000, Mr. C. Lexius Burlington, who is well known in Papua and on the New Guinea goldfields, where he was connected with several mining ventures, departed from Sydney for England, via U.S.A., with his wife and young daughter on September 2.

Mr, Burlington has gone to London prin cipally to witness the Coronation cere monies, and will be away for a year. On his return to the South Seas, he plans to lead an expedition, financed by a London syndicate, into the Fly-Strickland-Purari watershed of Papua in search of gold. Mr.

Burlington believes that by the time he is ready to enter the area the restrictions on private parties penetrating that sec tion of the Territory will have been modified.