Anti-Malarial Research
pp. 55-56 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, July 22.
11HE Papuan Administration in a fur . ther attempt to eradicate the malar ial-carrying mosquito is enquiring into the results of recent scientific re search which, according to reports, has discovered a disease due to fungus which attacks the insect in the larval stage of development. Mortality among larvae in a pond infected with the disease has been found to be very high. The condi tions under which the disease will propa gate are being closely studied with a view to its possible use as an anti-mosquito measure.
Should investigations prove satisfactory, it is likely that the disease will be intro duced into Papua.
Much satisfaction has been given with the distribution of Gambusia Aiflnis, the small larvae-eating fish, which was first introduced into the Territory by Dr. W.
E. Giblin in 1933, when he was G.M.O. at Port Moresby. These little fish were placed in all underground and other large tanks in the town, and also in all the fresh water springs and lagoons in the neighbourhood, with excellent results.
Districts which had previously been
plagued by mosquitoes became entirely free of them.
It is understood that the Gambusia Minnows distributed to out-stations have also given satisfaction. There is, however, a humorous story that one resident on receiving a consignment of Gambusia, and not fully understanding their use, ate them. He reported them a failure, say ing he much preferred white-bait in tins!
Special apparatus to ensure secrecy has been fitted at the Rabaul end of the radio telephone service with Australia.
The equipment was designed and manu factured by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd. It scrambles the words as they are transmitted so that they are unintelligible, and an apparatus con nected to the receiver restores their sense.
A gift of a steam launch has been made to the Presbyterian Mission by a Tas manian supporter for Rev. W, F. Paton, of Ambrym. New Hebrides. At a dedica tion service recently, it was named “Percy Henry” by Mr. E. R. Henry, of Hobart, to commemorate the work for Presbyterian ism generally of the donor’s father, the late Mr. Percy Henry.
The English luxury yacht “Sans Peur” <B2O tons), with the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland on board, will make a cruise of the Pacific at the end of this year.
The steady advance made during the three years in which Southern Pacific Insurance Co., Ltd., has been in opera tion was described by the chairman, Sir Walter Carpenter, at the annual meeting on July 14. He said he expected to see the steady expansion maintained.