Noted Diver Visits New
p. 61 · Read in the full issue
Guinea
AUSTRALIA’S leading diver, Mr. J.
Johnstone, whose underwater ex ploits have received wide publicity, recently spent some time at Finschhafen, New Guinea. Mr. Johnstone was instru mental in freeing the “Reynella” when she went up on a reef off the Papuan coast in August. 4 Mr. Johnstone and his son constitute the firm.” The elder partner has been diving since 1916, but only on about three occasions had he suffered any physical effects, and these were only of a tem porary nature. There was no cure for divers paralysis” which is the profes sion’s greatest hazard.
Mr. Johnstone held commissioned rank in the Navy during the war. He praised naval methods of diving and said there was practically no danger if ratings adhered to the regulations.
While at Finschhafen, HMAS “Taran gau, the naval base, screened a film showing him recovering gold from the ill-fated “Niagara.”
New Caledonia is sending two repre sentatives to the Pan-Asiatic Labour Conference at New Delhi. They are Messrs. Colonna and Pentecost, of Noumea.