Two Years Since

Eruption

Robaul's Memories of Scientists

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, June 1.

THE town is just getting over its celebration of the second anniversary of its delivery from Vulcan.

Europeans keep up the day—Black Sat urday, some of them call it —by attend ing the New Guinea Club Frangipanni Ball. This year it was held on Satur day. May 27, and there were over 270 present. When the Club puts on an event it is usually pretty good. During the dance they staged a sort of a bur lesque sketch. This year it was a skit on the visit of the two vulcanologists, Drs. Stehn and Woolnough, and the conclusions they arrived at. Act 2 show ed Rabaul two years later, and every one happy, and the Frangipannis still blooming.

Startling Land Valuation

One of the recommendations made by Dr. Woolnough and Dr. Stehn. af ter having examined the vulcanological aspects of Rabaul, was the removal of the Government buildings situated at Rapindik, little more than a stone’s throw from the Matupi crater. Here are situated the native hospital and some labour houses. These recommendations were dated September, 1937.

The Administration decided on an area over on the North Coast, a few miles from Rabaul. and situated in a thickly populated native district called Ratavul.

Surveyors made a preliminary survey— and the natives took it into their heads to pull up the survey pegs. In a nut shell, the native-owners objected strong ly to the resumption of the land. How ever, the land was duly resumed and gazetted, despite radios and petitions for warded to Canberra at the instigation of a European.

The next act was staged in the Su preme Court this week, when Judge Phil lips was asked to fix a fair compensa tion. The area in question is about 17 acres (7 hectares). The natives still main tain their stubborn attitude, and will not even consider compensation. An other radio has been sent to Canberra, notwithstanding the fact that the re sumption is a fait accompli. The natives sought an adjournment for a fortnight, evidently hoping that Canberra may find time during the two weeks to cancel the action of the Administration. The ad journment was granted to June 14.

As a result, land values, with no other improvements than coconuts and bananas and bread-fruit trees, have soared in this area. It appears that the Admin istration is prepared, after valuations have been worked out by official val uers. to pay the dispossessed owners the astonishing sum of £727, or roughly £lOO a hectare!

It certainly is a generous gesture on the part of the Government. But what about the impression it will make upon the native mind? And how are the plant ers going to get on in later years if they want to obtain some native-owned land? Previous official instructions laid it down that native land shall be paid for at the rate of 6 - a hectare, and coconuts on such land valued at the rate of 4/- or 5/-.

Dwindling Surplus

The quarterly statement of the Con solidated Revenue Account, in the “New Guinea Gazette", shows that the Terri tory’s surplus at March 31, 1939. was a mere £758, 2 9. On the same date in 1938 the surplus stood at £78.955 12/2.

Only a decrease of £78,197/9 5!

Comparative revenue figures show de crease in every item except three (Licences. Head Tax and Mines), while the expenditure items show increases in all except Lands. Native Welfare and Volcanic Eruption, It seems to be a sorry state of affairs, and people are asking “Why?" Some even are so bold as to say that the equalisation of the financial positions of New Guinea and Papua have some con nection with the proposed amalgamation of the Administrations of the two Ter ritories! New Guinea-ites need not now be witty at the prospect of New Guinea carrying the Papuan Baby! Papua may be poor: but Papua never had tens of thousands of pounds of gold royalty to play with.

The Catholic Bishop of Fiji, the Right Rev. Dr. C. J. Nicolas, S.M., on May 12. was formally invested by the Governor of Fiji, Sir Harry Luke. K.C.M.G.. with the insignia of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

His Excellency spoke feelingly of the splendid work done by Bishop Nicolas, and his devoted priests, brothers, and nuns, in the islands of Fiji. He praised the apostolic zeal displayed by Dr. Nicolas during half a century of work in the South Sea Islands.