Finschhafen Notes

New ADO Settles Down to Work

Finschhafen, Mar. 26.

ASSISTANT District Officer Malcolm H. Wright and his charming wife are now comfortably housed at “Windy Point,” Gagidu, overlooking a magnifi cent expanse of Vitiaz Straits —with them is their young daughter, Robyn.

Mr. Wright has already settled down to work, and there is an air of quiet

efficiency at the Sub-District Office.

Typewriters click, and streams of natives pass through the Holy of Holies airing their complaints, seeking advice and of fering suggestions.

A pleasing and much-needed feature of Finschhafen now is the centrally-situ ated “bung” (native market), where vegetables may be purchased at reason able prices The courtesy with which Mr. Wright deals with Europeans is the subject of favourable comment, and every native in this large Sub-district should know Mr.

Wright personally within a few months,

for he intends embarking on a vigorous

patrolling campaign.

* * * BEFORE packing up for the Central Highlands “gold rush” I’ve decided to do a little fossicking in the Finsch hafen hinterland. Oh, yes, I know you’ll laugh—but he who laughs last laughs, laughs! Even old “Shark Eye” said there was no gold above 3,000 ft. elevation— and then Bill Royal went on and found Edie at 7,000 ft! * * * ARAAF plane periodically sprays the local naval base and Administration Headquarters with DDT. It certain ly is effective. Recently, while flying just over the tree-tops, spurting out great volumes of disinfectant, a five-feet piece of one of the wings was knocked off. Fortunately, the plane landed with out mishap. * * * MR CYRIL PARER, with his wife and child, is now residing in Finschhafen.

Parer is a director of the enterpris ing New Guinea Industries, Ltd., and, as such, he has been loading thousands of empty petrol drums which the company purchased from “Disposals.” * * * CAPTAIN C. H. Brooks, RAN, Naval Officer in Charge New Guinea, gave a farewell cocktail party to HMAS “Condamine” at “Westward Ho!” on March 17. . . . ADO Jack Keenan left for Sydney with “Condamine” on March 18. He and his successor, Mr. Malcolm H. Wright, were given a “Farewell-Wel come” at the residence of Patrol Officer and Mrs. R. A. Webb some nights pre viously. A large gathering of Administra tion Officers and a big sprinkling of the gold braid from HMAS “Tarangau” (local naval base) were in attendance. Danc ing went on until the early hours of the morning. * * * BAROFA, formerly an NGIB corporal, was presented with the Military Medal at Finschhafen on March 17.

He comes from Bogia, near Madang, but now resides, with his wife, in the Hube area of Finschhafen. During the war he rescued two wounded white non commissioned officers under direct enemy fire, and also directed half a patrol in the Hupai River area, enabling the pla toon sergeant to concentrate on the larger portion of the attacking force. For his investiture he was fitted out with the undress uniform of the NGIB —bright green lap-lap, shirt and beret. A detach ment of the New Guinea Police Force formed a guard of honour, and there was a large gathering of native officials and other natives. The presentation was made by Lieut.-Col. B. S. Hall, who was passing through Finschhafen on HMAS “Kanimbla.” * * * THERE’S no rest for that popular, sought-after Lutheran Mission medico, Dr. Theo G. Braun. He and his wife had decided to take a rest to the Central Highlands District, but before they step ped into the plane there were four sum monses for him. Fortunately Dr. Agnes Hoeger was locum tenens.

Dr. Braun’s income from private prac tice would probably be the biggest in New Guinea were he to seek monetary reward, but this talented American surgeon, with a life-time experience of tropical medi cine, has devoted himself to missionarv work. I often wonder whv our medical missionaries are not included in the Honours Lists. Their good work, how ever, should be recognised in some way or other.

Dr. Lindsay Verrier, of the Fiji Medical Service, who spent six months leave in Australia, departed from Sydney for Suva, via New Zealand, on April 2. Dr.

Verrier spent most of his six months’ furlough at the Walter & Eliza Hall In stitute of Research in Pathology and Medicine, in Melbourne.