Buka-Bougainville

News and Notes From Buka-Bougainville

From a Special Correspondent

Buka Passage, July 7.

PROGRESS is being made in this dis trict in Administration and in plan tation rehabilitation, but it is slow owing to the many disabilities under which the district is at present suffering.

Chief among these is lack of shipping, with consequent lack of necessary sup plies—both European and native.

There is a general shortage of native labourers, and those natives who are wil ling to work desire to do so on a casual basis. As a result, it is difficult for planters to get any system of operation, or even a regular amount of work com pleted. The production of good copra will be exceedingly difficult without

trained dryer attendants who can be trusted. Some planters’ labour lines fluc tuate from month to month. It is there fore hard to plan ahead and clearing the bush becomes very expensive.

The Administration is handicapped by a shortage of staff and by the fact that, at present, there is no patrol vessel in the district. The one allotted to the area seems to spend most of its time being repaired at Finschhafen, with short periods on duty. As the islands groups of Nissan, Carterets, Mortlocks and Tasmans are included in Bougain ville district, a patrol vessel is neces sary.

With a growing number of European women and young children in Buka and Bougainville, the need for a European hospital at Sohano headquarters has be come urgent. There is no accommodation

available for sick people and the respon sibility for housing and feeding patients appears to rest with the medical assist ant. This is most unfair to all concerned.

The matter of a hospital was urged upon Dr, Gunther, PMO, on the occasion of his recent visit.

An agricultural station has been started at Komarau, adjacent to Buka Passage, and is in charge of an officer of the Agricultural Department. Experimental crops are being grown and demonstra tions in proper methods of agriculture are given to the natives. Nine pedigreed boars were recently landed at Komaru, ex Port Moresby, by “Laurabada.”

It is the intention of the Adminis tration to transfer a number of pigs from Nissan Group to the Buin area.

They are not of a very classy variety, but will assist in remedying the shortage there, caused by Japanese appetites. Pigs are worth their weight in gold every where at the present time.

Residents of Buka and Bougainville were pleased to have had the Adminis trator and his party tour the district, and to have the opportunity to place their views before him. The month which Colonel Murray spent in the area will give him a clear view of conditions here.

Residents feel that the district should be recognised and treated as one of the richest and most productive areas in the Territory of New Guinea. Copra produc tion amounted to 12,000 tons per annum in the pre-war period, and all the plan tations were heavy producers. That copra to-day would be worth over £350,000. v * * Plantations now being cleared include Karoola, Soraken, Bonis, Raua, Inus, Tearouki, Teopasino, Numa Numa, Tene kau, Arigua, Arawa, Iwi and Kekere.

There is some copra now awaiting ship ment at one or two of these places.

Whilst clearing up, the plantations will probably produce smoke copra, although jt is understood that this jgrade is be coming unpopular with buyers.

A large amount of trochus shell was purchased from the natives by planters and traders in the early part of the year.

The poor shipping service prevented the greater part of the shell being shipped until early in May, and by that time the bottom had fallen out of the market.

The majority of the buyers suffered an unpleasant loss as a consequence. * * ♦ D. O. RALEIGH FARLOW was due to go on leave in July. During his ab sence ADO Chris Slattery will carry on. Mrs. Slattery has lately joined her husband at Sohano.

Dr. Pike, who has been appointed medical officer for Bougainville district, arrived recently to take up his duties.

The presence of a MO is appreciated by all. * * * Mr. R. A. Robinson, Senior Inspector of Plantations for Burns Philp & Cos., has been touring Bougainville inspecting the company’s properties. He returned to Rabaul on July 3. * * * Mr. Ron Pickwell, our popular and energetic medical assistant, has done a very good job during his 12 months in charge of the native hospital at Sohano.

His advice and help to European pati

ents has also been much appreciated.

Mrs. Pickwell has now arrived from Mel bourne.

Mr, J. Preston-White is ADO in charge at Kieta. His wife and child are now with him. * * * Father Albert Lebel, of the Marist Mission, is now in America on a well earned holiday. He is not expected back until next year. He flew from Torokina to Sydney and thence to America. * ♦ ♦ Mr. Paul Mason has now returned to reopen Inus Plantation, Bougainville, He is a welcome addition to the ranks of former planters. * :J: * Mr. Rolf Cambridge, formerly District Manager for Choiseul Plantations Ltd*., is now inspector in Bougainville for the Production Control Board. He has also been acting for the War Damage Com mission. * * ♦ Bishop T. J. Wade, of the Marist Mission, has his headquarters at Toro kina at present. He is a very busy man these days as the re-establishment of his Mission after 3V 2 years of Jap occupation and destruction, is no light task. His job entails a lot of travel, organising and worry. In spite of all his wartime ex periences and his strenuous work, he re mains the same cheery and humorous personality that the district has known for so many years. The Bishop always says “I like a straight shooter,” and that is another reason why the district likes the Bishop! He comes into that category himself. * * * Among former residents of this area who have now returned are Mr. and Mrs.

Claude Campbell, of Raua; Mr. Max Babbage, of Karoola; Mr. Don Colley, of Soraken, who is in charge of the Burns Philp interests in Bougainville: Mr.

Drummopd Thomson, who controls the Buka Plantations and Trading Co.’s properties; Mr. Sandford, of Numa Numa; Mr. Alf Long, of Bonis; Mrs. E.

Falkner, of Tearouki; Mr. A. M, Stew art, of Teopasino; Mr. Bob Stuart, of Tenekau; Mr. Jack Ellis, of Arawa; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Joyes, of Iwi; Mr. W.

A. L. Clark, of Kekere; Mr. Fred Archer, of Yame, and Mr. Charlie Quintal, who is at Karoola.

Mr. A. H. Voyce, of the Methodist Mission, is at Buin, and Mr. C. T. J.

Luxton, of the same Mission, is at Buka.

Both are busy getting their mission sta tions into order. Very soon a minister is expected from New Zealand to reopen the Methodist Mission at Tiop. Usaia So tutu, the Fijian mission teacher, who fig ured prominently in “Coast Watchers,” is assisting Mr. Luxton at Buka.

Sister Toole, formerly Sister-in-Charge of the Marist Mission native hospital at Pororan Island, Buka, is now in charge of a similar institution at Gagan, in Cen tral Buka. The passing years have not slackened her energy and drive. * * * Two of the pre-war Chinese storekeep ers, Wong You at Kieta and Laurie Chan at Buka Passage, have reopened their stores and are providing certain Euro pean lines along with trade goods. Wong You was a storekeeper and trader pre viously. He had a thriving business. • Master Charles Riechelman was a passenger on the flying-boat “Coriolanus” which left Sydney on July 18. He was returning to Tonga after eight years in Sydney.