Leo Austen Retires From

Papuan Service

ONE of the senior officials of the Papuan Administration, Mr. Leo Austen, who was Resident Magistrate at Daru when civil administration ceased early in 1942, retired on superannuation recently.

He joined the Papuan Civil Service in 1919, after 4i years’ overseas service with the Ist AIF.

As a patrol officer, under the direction of the late Sir Hubert Murray, he did a

good deal of exploration work between 1919 and 1924, mostly in the Fly River district. After that, he was ARM and RM in most of the principal stations of the Territory.

Mr. Austen is a well-read man, with a strong leaning towards the scientific; and, in the course of his work, and as an anthropologist (he holds the University of Sydney’s Diploma of Anthropology) he was able to collect a large amount of very valuable data concerning native peoples.

His studies of native life have formed the basis of innumerable articles which he has written for scientific and other journals.

Mr. Austen was discharged from the Australian military forces last June, and now is serving as Aborigines Welfare Officer for the north .coast of New South Wales.

Mr. Leo Austen.