Colonists

New Rich Land For

New Guinea's Central Tablelands

ALREADY, in spite of the apparent in difference of the Administration, European enterprise is beginning to colonise the rich tablelands of Central New Guinea. A correspondent in the Ramu district, writing late in August, says: “Several men, who have settled dow. here on the Ramu tableland to seek gold have apparently made up their minds to engage in planting while maintaining themselves by alluvial mining. They are making preparations to plant such things as coffee and soya beans, and they may cultivate cinchona—the quinine plant which has been so successfully established here at the agricultural experimental station.

“It is believed that all produce from here could be taken down the Markham Valley by mules or horses, a four or five days’ journey, and if there is only a fair re turn from gold, I think these new colon ists are bound to succeed.

“Already, the cost of living here is down.

Vegetables of almost every description are growing luxuriantly in this temperate climate (we are about 5,000 ft. up) and we now have fresh milk from cows and goats, as well as fresh meat. A number of goats of a good type are being brought in here from the Lutheran Mission, at Finsch haven. I think the era of tinned meat and high costs caused by aeroplane freights is finished.

“I thing that there is a future here for timber—there are some fine varieties of big trees growing on these valleys and hill sides. Of course, we shall have to have a road out to the coast—Lae, I presume.

“You would be amazed if you could see the wide variety of vegetables we can grow here in these upland valleys, and their splendid quality. The missions here are producing cape gooseberry, grapefruit, strawberries, loganberries and mulberries.

“I should like to see some experiments made here with sheep—l believe that with certain breeds it would be splendid sheep country. There is no doubt about its suitability for cattle.”

Mr. F. I. Fleming has been appointed temporary wireless officer at Canton Is land, Central Pacific.

Constable W. Cook, who served for three years in the Police Department in Wes tern Samoa, arrived in New Zealand by the August “Maui Pomare” from Apia.

Mr. G. A. Loudon, of Eilogo Plantation, Papua, after two months’ residence in Papua, has returned to Wentworth Falls, N.S.W., under doctor’s orders, for a further period of residence in the cool air of the Blue Mountains. He is making satisfac tory progress in health.

Dr. Roncin, of the French hospital, Vila, left the New Hebrides for France by the last “Ville D’Amiens”. Dr. Momfort has succeeded him.

Mr. Charles Hutchings, who arrived in Fiji in 1879 and was prominent in the sugar industry for many years, died in Sydney recently.

Rev. L. N. Durand-Vaugaron, a French missionary who went to the New Hebrides in 1906 and served for many years at Pentecost and Mallicolo, died recently at Vila, from fever.