The Imperfect Criminal

An Incident In Papua

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Jan. 28.

PAPUAN natives show a strong inclin ation towards progress, but in the matter of crime they are singularly unproficient in some of the finer points of technique.

Pipi Heni, of Elevala, has been for many years employed by the Public Works Department. The Department runs a sort of savings bank for its na tive employees; and one of them, a Western native who should have been a greater “mug” than in fact he is, wanted to deposit some cash.

In the absence of the white officer who usually attends to such matters, Pipi persuaded the native to hand the cash to him; and, on being asked for a receipt, became faintly indignant: “I think you bushman”, he protested. “You no savvy me? What for you want him paper?”

But the “mug”, though silenced, was not satisfied. He called again and saw the officer, with the result that Pipi Heni appeared before the Magistrate last Monday.

A fine of £25 seemed fairly safe to throw the financier back onto the al ternative of “six months hard”. But not so. The fine was paid within twenty four hours!

Masters Neil and John Montgomery, of New Guinea, arrived in Sydney by the last “Bulolo”, and proceeded to Geelong Grammar School, Victoria, where they will resume their schooling.