Papua Of 47 Years

Ago

Only 16 Survivors of Community of 450 In 1900

(Contributed)

OFFICIAL records show that in 1900 there were approximately 345 gold miners in the then “Possession of British New Guinea,” with probably an other 105 persons comprising Govern ment officials, missionaries, and other occupations—in all, about 450 of a Euro pean population within an area about the size of Victoria. In 1907 as the Territory of Papua it had increased to 690, Euro pean population, possibly to reach its zenith in 1925 with a population of 1,452.

Strangely enough, only two residents of Port Moresby (the capital) and there abouts have survived—they who, jocularly, used to refer to Samarai as “The Village.”

The only residents who, in 1900, came within the framework of British New Guinea and still survive are:— Miss E. Challman, of Anglican Mission; later, Mrs. A. H. Bunting, widow. Now a grandmother, who has returned to Samarai.

Miss Synge, of Anglican Mission; later, Mrs. Benson, resident of Queensland.

Miss E. Mahony, of Samarai; later Mrs.

C. Owen-Turner, widow. Now a grand mother, who is still in Australia, Miss K. Mahony, of Samarai, later Mrs. G. Leitch, now Mrs. Driver. Now a grandmother, who is still in Australia.

Miss Tagula Mahony (absentee). Now nursing in Sydney. (These three “Mahony’s” are the daughters of Mrs. E. Mahony, known as “Momma” to the natives of Sudest, or Tagula Island, where she ruled as “Queen.”) Miss A. von Bremen, later Mrs. T. Craig, now a grandmother.

Miss S. Clunn, later Mrs. E. Oldham, now a grandmother; a resident of Sydney.

Miss Betty Wisdell, later, Mrs. Roger son.

Thomas Craig. Returned to Samarai.

D. Harry Osborne. Now in Samarai, trying to return to Rossel Island.

Chas. Gifford, then gold-mining at Woodlark (Murua) Island. Now resident at Magnetic Island, North Queensland.

Ernie Evenett. Returned to Samarai.

R. A. Vivian. Now resident at Mag netic Island, North Queensland.

L. P. B. Armit. Returned to Port Moresby.

H. W. Champion, OBE. Now a resident of Sydney.

E. Benstead. Now a resident of Sydney.

Emori Moce, 66-year-old mailroom assistant at the Suva Post Office, has been awarded the Imperial Service Medal. He was on the mailroom staff from 1921 until 1942, when he retired on a pension, and he returned to work in 1943, when the manpower shortage was becoming acute.

An official statement says: “He has been noted as an unfailingly reliable officer with an outstanding sense of duty.”

Mr. L. G. Usher, Public Relations Officer, Fiji, has left for six months’ vaction leave to New Zealand. During his absence, Mr. R. A. Hewlett is acting Public Relations Officer.

Mr. H. O. E. Palmer has been appointed chairman of the Levuka Township Board to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Cyril King.

Damage estimated at £2.000 was caused by a fire at the Health Office and Town Board building in Lautoka, Fiji, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.