Notable Wedding

Marriage of Daughter of Papua's Oldest Resident

From Our Own Correspondent

Opt. Moresby, Mar. 5.

F great interest to all residents of Papua was the marriage of Mr.

Frederick Godson, of Itikinumu Planta tion, Sogeri, and Miss Gladys English, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.- A. C.

English, of Rigo, which took place at Ela Pi otestant Church, Port Moresby, on March 3.

The ceremony was performed by Rev.

D E. Ure, of the London Missionary Society. The bride and bridegroom were supported by the sister of the bride, Miss Margery English (bridesmaid), and Messrs. E. -J. Frame and Stanley A.

Greenland (best man and groomsman).

After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs.

English entertained 60 guests at the In stitute Hall. Among those present were: His Excellency Sir Hubert Murray (Lieu tenant-Governor), Hon. H. W. Champion and Mrs. Champion, His Honour Mr. Jus tice Gore and Mrs. Gore, Hon. A. P.

Lyons and Mrs. Lyons, and Mr. and Mrs.

S. A. Greenland.

Following the bride and bridegroom’s toast, Sir Hubert Murray proposed tae toast of the bride’s parents. He remarked upon his many years of continued friend ship with Mr. A. C. English, who had already been a resident in Papua for more than 20 years when he first took office in 1904. Mr. English, said His

Excellency, knew the very early days

when Papua was a Protectorate and known then as British New Guinea. Sir Plubert laid stfess on the dangerous state of the colony at that time, and the hard ships and privations endured by Mr.

English, and later Mrs. English, when the demands made upon civil servants and settlers were such as are difficult to realise in these settled times.

Mr. English landed at Kerepuna in 1883, when there was no settlement what ever and the natives, except for the con trol of two white missionaries, were left to their bloodthirsty devices. At that time the coastline was visited only by traders, with occasional excursions by blackbirding schooners; but apart from these the country was practically un known.

He first interested himself in making valuable collections of Natural History specimens and of native curios. Later, in 1889, on account of his knowledge of the natives and the country, he was ap pointed Acting Government Agent for Rigo by Sir William MacGregor. Resign ing from the Government in 1907, Ml’.

English settled in the district, and en gaged in planting and trading, within a few miles of where he first landed 54 years ago, and where he now resides with his wife and family.

Mr, C. R. Bignell, of Fulakora Planta tion, Ysabel Island, British Solomon Is lands, arrived in Sydney by the Malaita on February 28.