Mumeng

A New N. Guinea Centre Is Now On the Map

From a Special Correspondent 11TE have read, with interest, news f▼ from other centres; but Mumeng .. has had little, if any, mention in the “PIM.”

Where is Mumeng? It is situated about mid-wav between Lae and Wau, on the famous Wau-Labu Road, it came into being during the war, when ANGAU opened a Government Station there.

Shortly after the war’s end, Mr. Eric Robson, of the Department of Public Health, was sent to Mumeng to take over from ANGAU. A few months later Mr. lan Downs was sent to represent the Department of District Services and Native Affairs.

Since then, Mumeng has prospered and the population has grown considerably.

Most residents have remained more or less stationary with the exception of District Services and the Road employees.

The first ADO at Mumeng was Mr. I F G. Downs; he was followed by Mr. Lloyd Hurrell. Afterwards, Patrol Officers took over the duty of OIC and included Mr.

John Gibson, Mr. Lyn Clark and Mr. W.

Mossman. At the time of writing, Mr.

Arthur Carey is acting as OIC and mak ing a good job of it, too. Mr. Eric Rob son has returned from leave and is ready for his mountain hikes again.

Mr. Carson Atherton, who relieved Mr, Robson, has resigned his position with the Department of Public Health and is interesting himself in private enterprise.

Best wishes go with him in his new ven ture.

Mr. Vic. McCormick, who visited Mumeng recently, has resigned from the Department of Works and Housing as Native Labour Overseer and has taken up a position on a plantation. Mr. Vic.

Palmer has taken over Mr. McCormick’s job and is in residence in the old “McCormick House.” With him are Mr.

Alan Thompson and Mr. Frank Pender.

Mr. Pender, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, was in the RAN for nearly 20 years. He is known to the local resi dents as Able Seaman Pender.

Mr. R. Fox with his wife and child is stationed at Mumeng as Road Supervisor.

The well-known Mr. Mark Schultz— who incidentally was one of the first arrivals there—continues to serve the native population with bits and pieces from his trade store. His latest venture is the Mumeng Hotel. He has been granted a licence and he will commence building operations as soon as local materials are available.

Mr. Mick Leahy, well-known and res pected throughout the Territory, has been engaging in many pursuits in the Mum eng area. Cattle, sheep, goats, fowls, pigs, ducks, geese and “what have you” continue to increase. Mr. Leahy also attends to agricultural pursuits and sweet potatoes, corn, peanuts and rice are domg nicely. Mr. Leahy, with his wife and family, is South at the moment, but is expected to return shortly to Zenag. Meanwhile his nephew Dan, as sisted by Mr. Don McKinley, attends to the farm. It is rumoured that Mr. Mc- Kinley has become “cattle minded” and hopes to open up a business before long.

Mr. Peter Monfries, with his wife and child, are living at Zenag. Mr. Monfries is delving in tobacco and reports are that he is producing a good type.

Mr. Jack Langhorne has purchased Mr.

Dud Ferries’ farm, and hopes to supply the district with potatoes.

Mr. Jack Westropp represents PHD on the road, and is attached to the Depart ment of Works and Housing. Mrs. Wes tropp is famous for her cake-making and Jack is a noted hiker. Mr. Westropp re cently accepted a challenge to walk up

Pateb Mountain within two hours. He did the job in an hour and ten minutes and collected a nice little wad of notes from local sporting men. After this splendid effort, he has been challenged, and has agreed, to wheel Mr. Pender in a wheel-barrow to Clear Water Creek in three hours. This has created a lot of interest and the stakes are big.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brugh conduct a trade store at Timne, and occasionally drop in on one of the Mumeng’s famous parties.

Talking of parties, I hear that Mr.

Robson recently invited some 20 guests to the “Plaster Room” for the purpose of celebrating his birthday (together with that of five or six other residents who were born under the Star of Gemini).

The opportunity was taken to farewell Mr. Atherton (Public Service) and to welcome Mr. Carey and Mr. Langhome.

It was fitting that Mr. Mossman (ex patrol officer) was present and an extra toast was given to the new son, who was born at Lae recently. The party con tinued happily until midnight. The chief entertainers were Mrs. Brugh, Mr.

Monfries and Mr. Carey. Mr. (Able Sea man) Pender gave a display of. the Sailor’s Hornpipe, danced to mouth-organ music supplied by Mrs. Brugh arid Mr.

Carey. Mr. Monfries entertained with an “aerobatical” display and a guitar solo.

Club Formed

On Sunday June 20, last a meeting was held at the residence of Mr. Eric J.

Robson and the Mumeng Club came into being. The club is a combined sports and social club and everything points to its success.

The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mr. Mark Schultz (local busi nessman) ; President, Mr. Eric Robson (on the staff of PHD); Vice-president.

Mr. Frank Pender (of the Department of Works and Housing); honorary secre tary, Mrs. J. Westropp (wife of Mr. Jack Westropp, a member of PHD attached to Works and Housing); honorary treasurer, Mr. V. Palmer (of Works and Housing); publicity officer, Mr. J. Westropp.

The election of a general committee was as follows: Mr. Eric Robson, Mr.

Frank Pender, Mr. Bob Fox (Works and Housing), Mr. Arthur Carey (District Services) and the secretary, Mrs. Wes tropp.

The subscription fee has been fixed at one guinea for gentlemen and five shil lings for ladies, per annum. Members are admitted by nomination.

Mr. J. D. Rogers, Director and General Manager for Vacuum Oil Co. in NSW, has been appointed to head office as marketing Director for Australia and the Pacific Islands. Mr. Rogers has had 25 years’ distinguished service with Vacuum. He is a veteran of both World Wars, finish ing as Brigadier and Director of Military Intelligence, and with the following de corations: MC, Belgium C de G (World War I), CBE and OBE (World War II).

He is a member of Sydney Legacy, and more recently, has acted as Chairman of Legacy’s War Orphans’ Appeal Committee.

He is also president of the Imperial Ser vice Club and is a keen golfer.

The Rev. A. W. Silvester and Mrs.

Silvester of the Methodist Mission, Vella Lavella, BSI, for family reasons, will be returning to New Zealand this year to take up church work in the Dominion. Mr. Silvester remained on Vella Lavella during the Japanese invasion, and although he was pursued all over the island he evaded capture, due mostly to loyal sup port of the mission natives. When the American troops landed on Vella Lavella in August, 1943, Mr. Silvester was able to give valuable assistance. For this work

and for organising help to Allied airmen whose planes crashed around the island, Mr. Silvester was awarded the highest

decoration that the USA confers on civilians. Mr. Silvester has spent 14 years on Vella Lavella.

An invitation to submit designs for two new riji stamps was issued by Fiji Postmaster-General. The denomina tions of the new stamps are to be 10/and £l. A prize of £lO will be paid for each design that is accepted and the design will then become the property of the Government of Fiji. Rejected designs will be returned to competitors. Designs we e T • ' rwarded to the Postmaster- General before June 30, 1948.