Slow Revival In

N. Guinea

Europeans Fight to Restore For tunes While Officialdom Pamp ers the Natives

DESPITE all that one hears about the ambitious planning of the New Order in New Guinea, residents of Lae, in private letters, complain bitterly of the lack of intelligent planning there.

A dilapidated and unattractive China town has sprung up on the south side of the Busu River, at Lae about 200 Chinese are living in a collection of buildings made of rusted iron, including about 30 trade stores.

Lae’s water supply is being pumped direct out of the Busu River without chlorination or any other attempt at purification. The lucky residents are those who have rain-water tanks.

About 100 Europeans now have returned to Wau, and that town is taking some shape again. All heavy traffic goes by the new road from Lae. but there are also regular air services, as well. Six passenger Avro-Ansons are being run by a new concern. Guinea Air Traders Ltd.; Mandated Airlines are back on the job: and Qantas Ltd. are running a couple of small planes. Guinea Airways Ltd., (which poineered Territories air traffic, and made such a success of it) apparently do not intend to return see article June issue.

Salamaua now is a ghost town. Once a busy sea and air port, it was destroyed by the Japs, and has been abandoned.

The sole European inhabitant now is that well-known goldfields pioneer, Mr.

“Yorkie” Booth, who is running a trade store on the beach.

All the old mining companies are- busily rehabilitating themselves, and it should not be long before gold recommences its outwards flow. Two Bulolo dredges are working, and other units of the pre-war batterv of eight are nearing resumption.

It has been reported in Sydney that some valuable machinery has been sent north for the re-equipment of the famous Black Cat Mine, on the ranges east of Wau. It is said that a strong syndicate, embracing Parer interests, is backing the revival of the enterprise.

PRIVATE enterprise, in spite of the ill concealed hatred of Canberra Soci alists, and the non-cooperation of Port Moresby academicians, is making a splendid effort towards rehabilitation. It is a revival of pioneering spirit, which achieved so much between 1920 and 1940.

If poor old White Brother could only get a tithe of the love and attention and money lavished upon Black Brother by Australian officialdom, since 1945, what a different story it would be!

Special Correspondent.

Some senior officers of the New Heb rides Condominium have been away on leave. Judge Y. Geslin, representing France on the Joint Court, has been for four months in France on furlough. M.

Buteri, Joint Court Registrar, has been away on sick leave, and Mr. Stephen Dubois has been Acting Registrar. M.

J. Ralard, Public Works superintendent, has been in Australia on furlough, with his family and M. L. Page, Joint Court Surveyor, has been acting for him. M.

L. de Gaillande, Condominium Postmaster, has been on sick leave, and Mr. O. Hon egger has been acting postmaster. M. G.

Le Peltier, Assistant Treasurer, has been in Australia on furlough; and Mr. T.

Nicholls, Customs Officer has been on sick leave in Norfolk Island.