Back To New Guinea

IVTR. W. C. ABBIE, the Wau (New Guinea) gold-miner whose sentence for gold-stealing was quashed by a

unanimous High Court, was “snapped” in King Street, Sydney, a few hours after the verdict was given. Mr. Abbie says that he is going back to New Guinea to “talk” to the men whom he blames for his prosecution, and the camera indicates the nature of his thoughts.

Mr. G. W. Bellamy, of Edie Creek, New Guinea, writes:— “At a public meeting held here on September 19, it was unanimously de cided to give W. C. Abbie a bumper wel come when he returns here early in October.

“Abbie was sentenced to 21 months’ jail for gold stealing, in January of this year, by Judge Phillips, at Wau. The verdict caused a lot of resentment in this district, and many thought Abbie was the victim of a ‘frame-up.’ Money was collected for an appeal, which Abbie won, his conviction being quashed.”

Mr. Abbie left for New Guinea by the Neptuna on October 9.

Mr. Roy Barwick, formerly attached to the staff of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd., Port Moresby, has joined the Papuan Public Service.

Rev. M. T. Jones, Melbourne secretary of the Australian Board of Missions, returned to Australia after a visit to Papua and New Guinea by the Macdhui on October 1. He travelled more than 3,000 miles inspecting some of the remote mission stations, and used planes, schooners and native canoes.