Sydney H. Chance Retires

From Papuan Service

rRRITORIAN Sydney H. Chance, while still “in exile” on April 19. 1944, retired from what Mr. Leonard Murray has called the Papuan Adminis tration “temporarily suspended.”

On return from World War I, in 1919, Mr. Chance went to the Mandated Terri tory for the Department of Lands and Surveys, and in 1920 was appointed ADO Manus, under the late Frederick Linacre.

His job was to manage the H. R. Wahlen properties on Maron and other of the Western Islands until the Expropriation Board took over.

A trip to Europe occupied 1921-22, and when he returned Mr. Chance switched New Guinea territories and joined the Papuan Service, Police and Magisterial Department. He has retired with the rank of Resident Magistrate. He holds the record in the Service for number of

postings, serving all 11 stations—Darn, Kikori, Kerema, Kairuku, Port Moresby, Rigo, Samarai, Cape Nelson, Buna, loma and Kokoda; and two police-posts—Mt.

Yule in 1924 and Kambisi in 1928.

With Patrol Officer Clarence Healey, he discovered the Beaver Falls on Upper Kikori River—the biggest falls in New Guinea so far discovered; and, also in company with Healey, was the first Euro pean to see the fivetoed pigs of that Since the evacuation, Mr. Chance has been working for the American Red cross in Brisbane. When the way is clear he hopes to be able to return to Papua ir some non-Governmental capacity and devote a few years to useful work.