Administrator Visits

Kavieng

From a Special Correspondent THE Administrator of Papua-New Guinea, Colonel J. K. Murray, paid a very brief visit to Kavieng in late April, shortly before he left for Aus tralia to attend the South Seas Confer encc.

He arrived by Catalina at 3 p.m. on April 26 and departed for Port Moresby at 1 p.m. on the following day. During his visit he was the guest of District Officer and Mrs. W. J. Read.

At 9 a.m. on April 27, an investiture was held by Colonel Murray at which Captain H. J. Murray received the Mili tary Cross, Sergeant Maramun the Mili tary Medal and the father of Sergeant Makille, the British Empire Medal. The ceremony was atteneded by the residents of Kavieng and natives and luluais of the surrounding districts. Native police formed a guard of honour.

After the ceremony, Colonel Murray addressed the gathering on Government policy and, later, was entertained at morning tea provided by the ladies of Kavieng.

Colonel Murray also made available sufficient time for personal interviews with local townspeople and those planters who had been able to get in to Kavieng in time.

Since the French took over the Ton touta airport from the Americans they have established a ipost office ,and a school for 30 children. The airfield monument erected in January. 1937, cele brating the arrival there of the first plane from France, that of de Verneilh, Deve and Munch, was damaged during the war years and is to be repaired.

Monsieur Deilteil, Secretary General to the Government of New Caledonia, has been created a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.