NG Planter's Devoted
pp. 47-48 · Read in the full issue
Native Servant
NATIVES of New Guinea sometimes are spoken of in derogatory terms.
Here is proof of the intelligence and devotion of at least one New Guinea man.
Mr. N. A. O’Dwyer, of “Massawa”
Plantation, New Britain, who was a planter of some 15 years’ experience, was in Rabaul when the Japanese invaded.
He attempted to get away to his plan tation, but he was caught by the Japs and kept in a prison camp in Rabaul for some months, and he was among those shipped away on the ill-fated “Montevideo Maru,” and never seen again. That was in 1942.
In March, 1946, Mr. C. C. O’Dwyer, of Gerrongpiliy, Queensland, received from tne Department of External Territories, Canberra, a packet containing all his son’s personal papers including cheque and bank books. The Department ad vised that the packet had been handed over to the District Officer in Rabaul by “Togalin of Kerere.”
The documents assisted very much in the settlement of the late Mr. N. A.
O’Dwyer’s estate. Mr. O’Dwyer, senior, was intrigued by the incident —he wanted to know how his son’s papers had been saved, and who Togalin was.
Assisted by a neighbour of his late son, Mrs. Forsyth (of the well-known Gavit plantation), Mr. O’Dwyer ascer tained that Togalin had been his son’s personal servant, and had been devoted to him. The indications are that when his master did not return, and the Japs began to over-run the country, Togalin gathered together all his master’s per sonal papers and carefully buried them, and then he himself “went into smoke.”
When the enemy surrendered, and the people could again move about, Togalin evidently returned to the place of burial, recovered the packet, and took them personally to the DO in Rabaul.
Togalin not only showed great loyalty to his master. He also displayed remark able intelligence in selecting and hiding the papers and in knowing what to do with them when his master failed to return.
Rev. Rodger Page, of Tonga, like his brother, Sir Earle Page, believes strongly in the wisdom of making better use of Australian rainfall and rivers. He quotes, with gusto, a pun once made by the late Bishop Moorehouse about the average Australian: “I wish he would damn his Creator less—and his rivers more!”