Precautions In N.

Guinea

Rabaul Port Closed at Night

ALTHOUGH emphasising that, in the existing international situation, the danger of an attack by an enemy upon the Territory of New Guinea appears to be remote, the Administration of New Guinea has deemed it wise to take cer tain precautionary measures; and in a formal announcement published on No vember 8, the Administration advised re sidents of New Guinea of steps that have been taken to provide for an emer gency.

Assembly points have been fixed in Rabaul for the combatant personnel; and an organisation has been created for the quick removal from Rabaul of all non combatants.

This latter organisation has been placed in the charge of Chief Judge Phillips who, it will be remembered, was decor ated for the fine work he did in evacuat ing the population of Rabaul, without loss of life, during the eruption, in May, 1937.

It has been deemed wise, also, to close the port of Rabaul, between sunset and sunrise, for an indefinite period.

As from November 13 no vessel may enter the port between sunset and sun rise, and all navigation lights have been extinguished accordingly; but vessels may, in special circumstances, be permitted to leave Rabaul during the forbidden hours.

It is apparent that the night closing of this important port will cause a good deal of inconvenience to shipowners; but it is equally apparent that, so long as there is a possibility of German raiders being loose in the Pacific, precautions of this kind have to be taken.

Mr. William Dennis, father of Mrs. C.

C. Judd, of Wau, New Guinea, and of Mrs. H. O. Townsend, of Rabaul, died at Oxley, Queensland, on November 6, aged 86. He was a pioneer pastoralist of Cen tral Queensland, where he arrived 65 years ago.

Mr. Gordon Higgs, who has been man ager of the Rabaul branch of W. R.

Carpenter & Co. Ltd., has been transfer red to the head office staff in Sydney. Mr.

C. E. Parker (who has been inspector in the Morobe area for some time) has been appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Higgs’ transfer.

Miss Geraldine Hogan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hogan, of Rabaul. is to marry Mr. Kevin Borthwick in Mel bourne on December 23.