When Errol Flynn Was

A NG Gold-Miner

Finschhafen, Oct. 20.

PRACTICALLY no sooner had Bill Fleming arrived at Finschhafen on a business trip than an old admirer handed him a tennis racquet and asked him to display some of his erstwhile form. The tall, athletic, Warden’s Cup winner of pre-war Wau days soon brought his effective backstroke into play and won all his sets, despite the fact that he had not played for nine months.

Back in the rip-snorting, gold boom days on the Mofobe Gold-field, in the early 30’s, Errol Flynn, Hollywood film star, when he wasn’t mining, recruiting, working for the Administration or private enterprise, card-playing or ticking up debts, used frequently to come down to Wau from his claim on Edie Creek and stay at Bill’s house.

Both were bachelors in those happy

days of cheap, efficient native labour and of continuous beer supply. Right along side the house were two tennis courts.

Errol was an all-round good sports man, both actually and temperamentally, and this compensated for his minor delin quencies. He had a charming manner, spoke with culture, was handsome, tall and well-built though, wearing shorts on the court, he looked “beef to the ankles.” He was a first-rate boxer and an excellent tennis player, later winning the championship at Hollywood.

But in those early days Bill Fleming was often too good for Errol, and more than once he beat Flynn at singles, fre quently early on Sunday mornings before breakfast.

It is good to see some of the “old timers” retaining something of their youthful prowess.

Mr. Claude Rouse, of Nubia plantation in the Wewak area, with Mrs. Rouse, arrived recently in Sydney on leave.