Names On New Guinea
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Maps
Letter to the Editor IN looking over a recently-drawn map of Papua and the mainland of New Guinea, I was struck by the fact that the names of two men, who have added very substantially to our geo graphical knowledge of the great island —namely, Mr. Ivan Champion and the late Mr. Jack Hides—have not been given to any of the newly discovered moun tains, lakes, rivers, etc.
On this new map, I see the names of such well-known explorers as Karius, and O’Malley, and there are the Leonard Murray Mountains—and it is fitting and proper that all these names should be there. But I am sure that everyone will agree that the names of Champion and of Hides (both representing the names of men and of families closely identified with the present as well as the early his tory of Papua) should be given to out standing geographical features, so that they may be always remembered in this great new land.
The map I refer to is that in the recently published “Bulletin of the Arch bold Expedition”, and I note therein that the lake in Papua, which was first seen from the air by Jack Hides and Ivan Champion, is therein named Lake Mar guerite. That was the name given to it by Jack Hides, as a compliment to his wife. But I think that, since then, the official tendency has been to call it Lake Kutubu. Would it not be a fitting tribute to the memory of the young explorer if it were called Lake Hides? If not, let it be called Lake Champion, in recognition of the great services given by the Cham pion brothers, in exploring all the new country thereabouts.
I am, etc.,
Loloki.
Port Moresby, Papua. 4/2/1941.
Friends in Tahiti will learn with regret of the death of Mr. George Rayner, which took place at Springwood, Blue Mountains, NSW, in February. Mr. Rav ner (who was the step-father of Lord Gifford) made several lengthy stays in Tahiti, to which Island he was much attached.