The Future Of

Rabaul

Old Residents Optimistic

From a Special Correspondent DESPITE the fact that Kokopo has been selected as Administrative head quarters for the New Britain area, latest reports indicate that Rabaul —eruption scarred, war-pounded and all is gradually staging a come-back —commercially at any rate and a progressive building programme is under way.

Already BP and WRC are operating in temporary quarters in the town, and the Colyer, Watson Co. has now completed the erection of new Rabaul premises and shows signs of expanding its pre-war activities by entering the retail trade.

Greater activity than ever is being shown by the Chinese section of the com munity, and enterprises of every descrip tion are being launched by these far sighted traders.

The Rabaul area suffered more damage from bombing and Japanese occupation than any other in the Territory: therefore, the natives in this district will receive the greater portion of war damage com pensation payments to be made by the Government. This means that large sumfl of money will be in circulation —although restricted in a measure by the newly introduced “Trading with Natives Ordin ance,” the policing of which will probab y give the Administration a bit of a head ache. Higher wages to native workers add to the money in circulation.

Old residents returning to New Britain express the opinion that Rabaul will re main the chief port and business centre of the island —if not eventually, of the Territory.

“Conditions in Rabaul are grim,” stater an old-timer, “but I certainly prefer Rabaul to Port Moresby. Too many people,” he added, “returning to the Territory expect to find con ditions approaching a pre-War state.

This, of course, is impossible quite apart from any political influences In every country that has experienced the ravages of war, conditions are grim, so why should New Guinea, portions o’ which received as much punishment as the blitzed areas of Europe, escape?”

Volcanoes in the Rabaul area have been behaving themselves of late despite vari ous seismic disturbances in other parts of the Pacific. In this regard a pre-waj* resident remarked: “We learned our lesson in 1937 (the year of the Rabaul eruption) and we don't intend to be caught napping again. At least the old-timers know the signs of impending danger, which we ignored in 1937.”

This brings up the question of vulcano logical observations in the Gazelle Peninsula. Whether Rabaul is officially recognised as a settlement or not, it is high time that seismic-recording insrtu ments were installed for the purpose of gathering scientific data —if for nothing else.

Noumea, New Caledonia, is suffering from a record outbreak of burglaries both of private homes and stores in the centre of the town. Considerable sums have been stolen, as well as goods.

New Caledonia’s deputy in Paris, M.

Roger Gervolino, has been a member of the jury which has been trying Vichy Ministers and Admirals accused of col laboration.

Recent additions to the staff of W. R.

Carpenter & Co., Ltd., in New Guinea, include Mr. J. Meek to the Rabaul store; Mr. R. E. Wilson, Lae store; Mr. B. C.

Butler and Mr. J. Knight to Madang.