Alleged

A Comedy of Errors Alleged

From a Special Correspondent SOME wicked people are circulating this story in the Territories of Papua and New Guinea, as an indication of what is called “the prevailing confusion”.

I cannot vouch for its truth; but it is told in detail—and it certainly is enter taining.

In order to help the native food problem of Papua, and to assist in feeding the people of Bougainville, certain officials ordered from “South” nine sows and one boar, for Papua, and a quantity of corn seed for Bougainville.

Someone slipped somewhere, and nine boars and one sow arrived in Port Moresby; and, owing to another error, the animals were fed on the corn intended for Bougainville. Officials in Bougainville now expect to receive pig-feed instead of the stipulated corn seed.

The pigs were turned out in Port Moresby on an area of land previously used for cultivating peanuts. One of the boars developed a nasty, hacking cough.

A high official studied the case, and de cided that the boar had tuberculosis, and he ordered the lot to be shot. Other officials argued, and had the execution de layed. The situation was tense.

Then the boar had an extra spasm of coughing—and up came an outsize in peanuts that had been stuck somewhere in his throat!

An old New Guinea identity, Mr. Ray Parer, has been a recent visitor to Sydney.

He is still suffering from the effects of his accident which occurred in Northern Queensland, some months ago when his arms were badly burned in a petrol ex plosion whilst repairing his car.