Madang Newsletter

From a Special Correspondent

Madang, Feb. 26.

THE Administrator, Col. J. K. Murray, visited Madang on February 5 and 6.

Main object was to inspect the agricultural station and view the general progress of the district.

Col. Murray was the guest of the District Officer and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. J. K. McCarthy.

In the party were Mr. W. Cottrell- Dormer, Director of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries who later visited Wewak; Mr. Pearsall of the Administrator’s office, Mr. Young of Public Health Department and Messrs. Vigden and Griffiths of the Department of Works and Housing.

During the Administrator’s visit an op portunity was taken to present Mr. W.

Dolby with the British Empire Medal.

Mr. Dolby, who until recently has been recruiting in the Sepik River District, has now left Madang to undertake the man agement of one of Mr. H. G. Murray’s plantations at Kavieng.

On the second day of Colonel Murray’s visit he interviewed local residents and at night His Honour met members of the Progress Association at the home of the District Officer. In outlining Admin istration policy Colonel Murray discussed priorities for construction of buildings and wharves.

Mrs. McCarthy left with the party for Port Moresby by the C 47. She entered hospital for examination. * * * On February 1, the native market was re-opened. It is of great advantage to all white women in Madang as it over comes the necessity for natives peddling their wares haphazardly from door to door, at their own price. * * * Mrs. F. Brosgarth took charge of the European School on February 3. She has 10 children ranging in age from six to 14 years and in six grades.

The, wet season has caused havoc to local roads, but it is understood the road grader will be available at the first op portunity. As the Meiro River Ford has been impassable on many occasions the need for a bridge across the river is now more apparent. * * * Mrs. John Griffin was recently flown by chartered plane from Saidor to Madang to enter hospital. Later she went to Finschhafen for surgical treat ment at the Lutheran Mission Hospital. * * * Preparations for the installation of buildings for the Air Radio and Air Con trol have been commenced. * * * Mr. Ron Chugg, formerly Senior Medi cal Assistant at Madang, has returned to the Territory. During leave spent in Melbourne, he and his wife made the acquaintance of their two new grand daughters. The Chuggs will be moving to Wewak shortly. * * * ' Charged with theft of fly-wire from Finschhafen, three Europeans were sen tenced recently to a fortnight’s imprison ment by the District Court. ** * * At a meeting of the RSSAILA jflans for a club-house, regular social activity and Anzac Day Celebrations were dis cussed. A worth-while suggestion for a pavilion on the oval was made, upper section to be used exclusively by the Asso ciation; lower section to be devoted to dressing rooms and seating accommoda tion for sports spectators. * * ■ The Chief Judge, Judge Phillips pre sided at a sitting of the Supreme Court on February 25 and 26, in Madang. Three

natives appeared before the Court on charges of unlawful killing. G One of the natives received a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment while the other two were each sentenced to 18 months. ♦ Hs jj« Mrs. C. I. H. Maclean, who has been visiting her son Colin at Saidor, left Madang for Rabaul by Catalina recently.

In Rabaul she will stay with her son Alistair.

A housing committee to investigate the establishment of a scheme of public housing on the lines suggested in the Colony’s Ten-Year Plan has been set up by the Government of Fiji. It consists of Mr. R. N. Caldwell (chairman), the Director of Lands (Mr. W. H. B. Buck hurst), Messrs. A. A. Ragg, Vishnu Deo, C. Came, R. L. Munro, C. N. Nettleton, C. R. Stephen, Dr. J. Taylor and Mr. W.

Whan. Mr. A. L. Baker is secretary.