A Letter From Morobe

of the Pacific, greetings!

May we have all the luck we’d like this year—we’ll probably need it.

Despite companies, hard times and rushes to supposed gold-strikes, there are still a few independent miners left on Morobe Goldfield.

One of the old hands passed out down here a few weeks ago—“ Budge” Beckett.

He came up as a pilot in the early days but soon switched to “chasing the weight.” “Budge” chased it unsuccess fully for years and had a very “rough spin.” * ♦ ♦ Even more tragic was the death of Tom Hough, who died after getting an arrow in the lung. A fine young man and a great scout—we in the bush are very sorry to lose him.

Perhaps you people don’t know that the Administration of this prosperous territory, although compelling us to in sure our “boys” when in uncontrolled areas, yet allows its white officers to carry on their o'ften hazardous occupa tion without making any provision for them in case of injury. In fact, officers wounded whilst carrying out their work have been called on to pay for their sustenance while in hospital! * * * Wewak has been getting a lot of at tention and many men have left this

field to go there. But it must be borne in mind that for the “small” man Mor obe is, for the present anyway, about finished, and any change is an improve ment. People going to Wewak should consider the venture purely as a pros pecting one and not a certain road to fortune. Gold is seldom easy to find.

Guinea Airways established an out station at the new field some months ago, and it is reported that there are already several ’dromes in the area, which, by the way, has not yet been officially de clared a gold-field. The Acting-Warden considers that results to date do not war rant it. Gold, like copra, is “up” and the price seems steady. My last return •bowed a premium of 107.8 per cent. * * * There was quite a stir round here when we learned that the Administrator had chartered the Lockheed for a trip to Australia and that he was coming over from Rabaul by chartered schooner. One section was sure that “wars and rum ours of wars” was the cause. Anyway things on the Beach (Salamaua) and Lae moved with a rush. The Lockheed, soused to the eyes with benzine and ready for a non-stop flight to Australia (which would save two hours for refuel ing at Port Moresby), was ticking over at Lae, with the pilot standing by, on the fateful morning. As Airways did not want to risk a take-off from Salamaua

'drome in the Lockheed, with a full load of juice (anyone knowing Salamaua 'drome will know why), the Ford, a three-engined machine, was ready to take the passenger to Lae immediately he arrived—a 10 minutes’ flight.

At 4 a.m. everything was in readiness, but the schooner had not arrived. When

it did, things immediately started to

happen. The Administrator wisnta leave direct from Salamaua in the Lock heed and, after refusing to fly to Lae, ended up by leaving next morning in a Mandated Airlines Dragon after it had been fitted with extra fuel tanks.

It seems strange that the Admin'stra tor should have disregarded the arrange ments made for him, in such a drastic manner, but it has been suggested in some quarters that had he consented to leave from Lae his action would have had an adverse effect on the Administra tion’s policy of aerodrome maintainence, as it would have been an admission that Salamaua 'drome is not safe for all types of aircraft in New Guinea. Evidently they do not wish to bear the expense of maintaining Lae ’drome. Salamaua 'drome in the wet season is like a west ern Queensland bog, and how they put those big machines down there without mishaps is a mystery to the layman, and also a frightening experience. Anyway it seems that there was not the urgency everyone supposed. ♦ * * It looks as if the compulsory aviation merger has not died a natural death, as we were led to believe. Just what the

Canberra autocrats want it for, ho dhe seems to know; but they seem deter mined to carry it through in the face of almost universal opposition. Really, there seems to be more freedom in Ger many than Australia these days!

Many months ago, Sir George Pearce sent us a circular letter, putting up a very feeble case for the merger and ask ing our opinion on the subject. He cer tainly got them, and reasons too, but I wonder if he were bothered to read our letters. The Government’s ignorance of modern air transport is amply demon strated in its handling of the prepara tions for the flying-boat service to Aus tralia. We doubt their capacity to run anything successfully.

Ye Gods! The Administration has in vented another form. There is a fee too, of course. It is an application for a per mit to employ natives. Separate permits —and fees—for alluvial and underground work. One has to get a testimonial as to sobriety—but that is all right—our mates daren’t refuse us one. Someone suggested that the Government, by mak ing use of this clause, could at any time drive us all off the field. That may be.

Anyway, it would be a more direct method than has been used so far.

Well, folks, cheerio! I hope you have enjoyed this great Australian moan as much as I have.

Peter Prospect.

Watut River., T.N.G.

Mr. A. K. Edwards, geologist, and Mr.

H. A. Fryer, surveyor, who have been in New Guinea preparing maps for the guidance of Oil Search Ltd. in the selec tion of bore sites, returned to Australia by the Macdhui at the end of January, Mr. Dave Riemenschneider, of the Hotel Metropole, Suva, reached Sydney by the last Aorangi.