Saw Milling On The Sepik

a Special Correspondent

Sepik River. Sept. 30.

ANGORAM’S popular ADO, Mr. R. G.

Ormsby, left here by plane recently on his way South on leave. He has spent the last 18 months on the Sepik and has carried a heavy burden in guiding the district through the initial stages of the rehabilitation period. The Sepik River is one of the Territory’s main re cruiting centres.

Mr. Ormsby’s pet plan is the erection of a native co-operative saw-mill at An goram. This plan, however, has not as yet got very far.

A mill would probably be of great benefit to the district. Sepiks are natural wood-workers and some of their carvings are show pieces in European museums.

The rafting of timber should lessen the cost of operating the mill and, as thous ands of canoes are needed on the Sepik, boatbuilding could become a flourishing trade.

Perhaps Mr. Ormsby’s mill would have a better chance of materialising if An goram were closer to Port Moresby and could become a show place for tourists.

Situated as it is, it would only be a show place for natives and recruiters and others who have business on the muddy Sepik.

The chiefs of Mare Island, Loyalty Group, complain that it is almost im possible to collect on behalf of the Cale donian administration the capitation tax, amounting to 240 francs per head, from Mare natives who are working in Noumea.

It appears that the administration has been threatening to fine the chiefs if the money is not collected. They describe this threat as being “a little arbitrary”