Alf Koskey

ALL pre-war residents of Rabaul and Salamaua will remember Mr. Alf Koskey, here depicted by McCarthy.

Alf returned to take up his former pre war occupation with the Administration in 1946. He had been there over 20 years before the Japanese invaded the Terri tory. Widely known as “Koskey the Cricketer,” Alf fully deserved that title.

The King of Games is his only hobby and he was a worthy exponent of it.

In his day, Alf was probably the best slow bowler New Guinea ever had. As a batsman, his late cut was the ultimate thing in that line. A former member of the St. Kilda Cricket Club. Alf brought to New Guinea some of the glory that was associated with that club when Pons ford, Ironmonger and Blackie played in its teams.

There should be no need to fear if the same laws are adopted as were drafted just prior to the outbreak of the war Forest-man Mac Adam had the matter well in hand, and is not the man to neglect the importance of reafforestation. * * * MERLE’S BAR in the Plaza Hotel (Sydney), where many an itinerant New Guinea-ite comes to anchor for a while, has lost one of its sentimental land-marks. For many a moon, above the rows of glistening bottles, there hung a link with the NGVR. It was the Unit placard carried in the last Anzac Day parade by Geof White, of Rabaul, now

gone to his rest. It was a friendly link with the old unit, a nostalgic souvenir, appreciated by the New Guinea soldiers whose unit has always been the Cinderella of all the fighting forces. They'd like to see it back again. * * * NORFOLK ISLAND, once termed the “Madeira of the Pacific,” is becoming more and more popular, and air-travel, with com petitive services, brings it within easy distance of Sydney. Several old New Guinea-ites are now living there. Norman Davies and wife (previously of Papuan Customs), Bill Mitchell, with his wife (he was BP manager at Salamaua and Wau some years ago), and Fred Bunting has bought himself a nice little home near the Cable Station. Local guest-houses, however, have had a fairly thin time this Christmas owing to the polio epidemic in NZ. when 600 guests were booked but nary a one turned up. . . There are big possibilities for this little isle— properly run. * * * BITS and pieces: Stan Tame, who used to be down Bougainville way before the war, has re turned to TNG and expects to be located in the Rabaul area. . . Harry Briggs, from Londip plantation, in the Kokopo district, is down on leave. After spending a few days in Sydney he went on to Melbourne.

Mrs. Briggs is holding the fort on the plantation. . . G. T. Wells, who has been Registrar and Curator of Estates in Port Moresby, is visiting Sydney, He is accompanied by Mrs. Wells. . . Miss Anna Wilson (daughter of the Norfolk Island Ad ministrator) was married in Mel bourne on January 19 to John

Alexander, of Finley, NSW. . . Gone to his rest is Edward Arthur De Latour on January 12. For many years manager of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., at Edie Creek and Wau. He was 71 years of age...

Mrs. Arthur Browning has returned to the Kokopo district, where she will re join he*' husband, who is with the PCB in the New Britain area. . . Recent visitors to Sydney were Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Holmes, down from Port Moresby, where E. P. (Pat) is Secretary for Lands. After a few days in Sydney they left for holidays in the Queensland capital.

Miss Nareda Hudson of Brisbane was married recently to Mr. Jeffrey Gill.

Their future home will be Kaiatit (NG), where Mr. Gill is a patrol officer.