Papua—Some Corrections

Two Related Tragedies of Papua—Some Corrections

Letter to the Editor riIHERE appear to be a few discrepan- X cies in the articles in the January “PIM,” entitled “Two Related Tragedies of Papua.”

The first (by M. R. Hunter) says that the natives “enticed” Chalmers ashore at Dopima village on Goaribari. But, according to Sir Hubert Murray, and my own recollection of the details at the time (I was in Port Moresby during this period), Chalmers was not so enticed, but the reverse was the case. Sir Hubert, in his book, “Papua, or British New Guinea” (page 89), says:—“A generally accepted theory among those who know the Gulf of Papua is that some feast, of the nature probably of that which, further west, is known as Moguru, was being celebrated at Dopima at the time of Chalmers’s visit. Strangers are never admitted to this ceremony; and every effort was made to induce the visitors not to land.

Then, as they insisted upon coming into the village, it was decided to kill them.”

As for the death-roll: From all ac counts, at the time, it amounted to several hundreds, and the villages and gardens, including all livestock, were completely destroyed when Le Hunte first went to deal with the murders.

Kemere was captured during a chase of the canoes, in which the surviving natives were escaping from the island—the “Ruby” shot up one canoe and Kemere fell into the water. I saw this native when he was brought into Port Moresby, and he was a very scared boy indeed, and I do not think much was got out of him.

Now for the Robinson affair: Arthur Jewell was not, and never was, the Gov ernment Secretary—Anthony Musgrave filled that senior position (head of the Public Service) at the time, and Mr.

Jewell was Private Secretary to the Administrator. Incidentally, Mr. Jewell is at present in Sydney, so could, if he would, give an eye-witness’s account of the whole affair. Again, Bruce was not the only man who kept his head. From what I know of the affair he obviously lost control of the police under his direct command. In fairness to Mr. Jewell, it should be stated that it was reported at the time that he remonstrated with the Administration at the conduct of Bruce’s men.

Again, the Royal Commission (the only one in the history of Papua, or British New Guinea, apart from that on the pro posed amalgamation of the two terri tories after the last war) was not ap pointed because of this incident, but because of maladministration of the Barton regime—the Commission being issued on the 27th August, 1906. After an exhaustive search of the Commission’s report, I can find not the slightest refer ence to either matter —they appear entirely absent; so where did Frank Clune obtain his quoted “findings”?

Then there is the definition of Mr.

Abel’s character. Mr. Abel, whom I knew fairly well, certainly was not of the “class who insisted on wearing top hats and frock coats in the tropics, etc., etc.” He was of a distinctly opposite type—in fact, nothing like the orthodox conception of a missionary at all. On appearance, he would have* been taken for a keen busi ness man, which, in actual fact, he was.

His record fully substantiates this assess ment of his character—Kwato is a living testimony to Mr. Abel’s organising and business ability.

I am, etc.,

J. T. Bensted,

formerly Director of Public Works and Member of the Legislative and Executive Councils of Papua.

Sydney, 28/1/43.

Captain G. H. Vernon, MC (a distinction which he won in World War I), formerly a well-known medical officer in Papua, has been doing notable medical WO j^T? n battlefields between Kokoda and Buna, in North-eastern Papua. He is a member of ANGAU. A friend of his recently in Sydney said:— “The old doctor has been pretty sick out there, and we have been trying to persuade him to go back for a rest. But he won’t go—he says that if they once get him into Port Moresby and put a stethoscope on him, they will not l?t him go back into the battle area. So he prefers to stay where he is.”

Mr. B. G. Challis, who was the non com. in charge of the seven members of the NGVR who escaped from Rabaul into the jungles of New Britain, on January 23, 1942 (see article on page 16), is now Flying-Officer Challis, of the RAAF. Re ferring recently in a letter to that bitter and hopeless battle, he said:—“lt was a most unhappy affair, but our boys gave a good account of themselves during the short time the sparks lasted.” , Mr-R- F PinderOßE formerly Auditor

$ has

been transferred to Palestine as Auditor (reports “Fiji Times”).