Exploding A Rumour

No Massacre at Tauri Police Camp in Central Papua

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, July 27.

ON July 21 two native ex-members of the Armed Constabulary reported to the Kerema Government Station that the Police Camp on the Tauri River had been attacked by nomadic Kukukukus and wiped out. They said that their friends, belonging to a tribe further inland, had actually seen the bodies of Patrol Officer A. Timperley and his police lying on the ground.

After closely questioning the natives, Mr. R. A. Vivian, in charge at Kerema,

immediately informed the authorities at Pt. Moresby of the rumour, and they in turn advised Sir Hubert Murray, who was visiting the Government Station at Kairuku.

So convinced with the truth of the tale were the native informers that they offered to join the patrol which was to leave to investigate the position—two of the “murdered” police, they said, were their friends and they wished to “pay back”.

Before the contemplated patrol actu ally set off. Patrol Officer Toogood re ceived orders to fly over the Tauri Camp in Guinea Airways’ Stinson monoplane.

He returned to Kerema after a two hours’ flight and reported that not only had he seen Mr. Timperley and his po lice but he had waved to them and they had saluted in return. Everything seem ed in order at the Camp.

The Lieutenant-Governor ordered a patrol to proceed this week from Kere ma and it should reach the Tauri River district early in August, Port Moresby residents were greatly relieved at the news that Mr. Timper ley and his companions are apparently quite safe, but they did wonder what Mr. Vivian would like to say and do to the two news-bearers who brought the story to Kerema. Mr. Vivian, of course, was quite right in reporting the matter to headquarters—these rumours all have to be attended to. for one of these days one might prove to be true.