Centre of Oil-Search
p. 56 · Read in the full issue
Activities Daru, in Western Papua, Assumes New Importance
From Our Own Correspondent.
Ft. Moresby, May 18.
DARU, the tnnd largest European sec clement in r-apua, wmen lies on a sman island a nine irom tne main land to tne west oi the mouth of tne .fiy River, is Decoming increasingly ousy, due to the vigorous search lor oil oy companies, wmcn use it as their head quarters. Almost daily vessels and sea planes arrive there from either Port Moresby or Thursday Island, or from the different prospecting camps scattered over the large areas oeing investigated.
On April 22, the 60 tons vessel “Casi ano ’, owned by Islands Exploration Co., together with two small speed launches capable of 18 knots, arrived from Thurs day Island. They were followed by the “Bon Accord” on April 25; the same day the “Prorero” called in from Kikori.
The “Milga” put in an appearance on April 27 with a batch of raw recruits from Lake Murray, the first to be re cruited from the district. They appear ed to be as fine a type of native as any working in the territory and were for the Papua Oil Development Co., which has a prospecting camp on Lake Murray.
On May 2 and 3, the “Milga” from Kikori and the “Aramia” from Thurs day Island helped to swell the ever-in creasing traffic in Daru waters.
On April 27, Dr. Jenkins, of the P.O.D. Co., added to the interest of the settlement by giving a cocktail party to celebrate the opening of his new surgery and residence, and many residents were present.