Chasing A Rumour

Curious Story of Papuan "Massacre"

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Mar. 23.

nTHE origin of the story of the “mas * sacre” in Western Papua is rather curious.

Mr. Jack Hides, who is away up the Strickland River with his prospecting expedition, heard the rumour (two white men and a party of natives “skittled”) from the natives. He decided to pass on the report, through his pedal-radio set, to the Government, for what it was worth. So he advised Daru station, at the mouth of the Fly.

Daru could not raise Port Moresby, so got in touch with Townsville, and asked them to advise Port Moresby. This they did.

Then, of course, Port had to find out where the rumour originated. The radio was very busy, getting into touch with all the mobile (pedal) sets (oil camps,

Ward Williams’ show, etc.), until they at last raised Jack Hides. Then they learned that Hides had merely advised that he had heard that a masscre had been reported by natives as having occurred somewhere in the Elevala or Strickland River districts.

That was all; but it caused a first class press hullabaloo.

An interesting feature was the way in which Amalgamated Wireless got into touch with every mobile set in the Western Division, separated by hundreds of miles from one another, and was able to report within a few hours that all parties were safe and sound, and knew of no disturbance.

The rumour may have been connected with some happening of long ago, and become exaggerated with age.

Major R. N. Caldwell, who has been Provincial and District Commissioner at Lautoka, Fiji, for eight years, arrived in Australia on furlough by the Niagara in March.