Central Tng

Highlands

Plans For Quinine and Tea

HAVING plenty of money and plenty of staff, the New Guinea-Papua Ad ministration is now steadily extend ing its rule over the highlands of Central New Guinea.

The headquarters of the Central High lands District have been established at Garoka, in the Bena Bena country. A District Officer is in charge, assisted by an A.D.0., a Patrol Officer, and the usual staff.

A good deal is likely to be heard in the future of this new upland country, between the Ramu Watershed and Mt.

Hagen, lying mostly at a height of around 5,000 feet. It is believed that the Administration plans the production of quinine and tea there.

The first imports of cinchona bark from the Far East since 1942 made their ap pearance in United States official stat istics in October. 1946. The quantity im ported was 44,800 pounds, originating in British Malaya.

Prior to 1942, practically all of the United States imports from the Far East originated in the Netherlands Indies.

Bark from Far Eastern sources is usually referred to as “Netherlands Indies bark,” and the quinine content is much higher on an average than for bark produced in other world areas.

The new Teachers’ Training College at Nasinu, Fiji, on the former Queen Vic toria School site, was officially opened in January. Work on the buildings is prac tically complete but there is still some cleaning up and minor construction work to be done.