Timber-Getting In East

Papua

From Our Own Correspondent SAMARAI, March 20.

ANEW industry has come into being at Labi Labi, in Milne Bay, Eastern Papua, a sawmill, operated by Messrs. Izod and Coleman. The mill is run by a 30 h.p. engine, using suction gas made from charcoal. At present, the timber is broken down with a pit saw, then passes to the circular saw, then is cut into lengths, and finally finished at the timber plane.

All classes of house timbers will be made available. The owners are experi menting with soft woods, seeking one that will serve to make shocks for desic cated coconut boxes for the factories in the Bay. All cases now used have been

imported from Sydney and made from American timber.

EDITORIAL NOTE: All the boxes in which desiccated coconut is exported from Pondo, New Guinea, are cut from timber found in the New Britain ranges, at the back of Pondo.

Sir Brooke Francis, at one time of Fiji, has been called out of retirement at Moss Vale, near Sydney, to accept an important Imperial post. Sir Brooke, who comes of a family long associated with the Pacific and particularly with defence matters in Fiji, was formerly Chief Justice of Nor thern Rhodesia. Later, he came to Sydney, and settled with Lady Francis at Moss Vale; now he is to go to Bermuda as Chief Justice. Sir Brooke began his career in Fiji, where his father. Colonel Francis, was in charge of the local de fence corps.