New Guinea

Minor War In Central

IN January and February, Patrol Offi cer George Greathead, who has charge, subject to the District Offi cer in Madang, of a large “uncontrolled” area eastwards of Mount Hagen, in Central New Guinea, had a merry little war upon his hands.

These rich uplands are inhabited by numerous tribes and, for hundreds of years, fighting has been their main recreation. Since *the region was pene trated and partly mapped by the Leahy brothers and J. L. Taylor, in 1932, the administrative officers have been trying to persuade the natives to be peaceful.

Gradually, their influence is being felt — wars rarely occur now. But, for a year or two, pilots of aeroplanes flying over to the new landing-ground at Mount Hagen used to have a remarkable bird’s eye view of fierce battles proceeding on the kunai ridges and broken valleys of the Bena Bena-Wahgi area.

Two tribes, the Panagas and the Kun dagas, in the Mount Hagen area, got squabbling in January and, by the time Patrol Officer Greathead and his native police arrived, rather bloody fighting had taken place. However, the patrol officer, with the help of the head men, had soon restored order. The casualties were four or five killed and about 30 wounded. A medical assistant, sent in by aeroplane to the camp of the patrol officer, bound up the wounds of 27 men.

The district now is quiet.

Rev. John Poole is at present under going a course of training at the Method ist Mission’s George Brown Training College, N.S.W., prior to going to New Britain, where he will be stationed in the Bainings District.

Rev. Wallace Deane, who spent nine years in Fiji during part of which time he was principal of the Methodist Mis sion’s Training Institution for Native Teachers at Davuilevu, has been ap pointed principal of the Burwood Method ist Ladies’ College, N.S.W.