Oil Search in Papua

IWO of the British Empire’s most ex perienced oil men, Mr. J. M. Pattin son and Mr. R. S. Mackilligan, re cently visited the Australian Petroleum Company's permit area in Papua in company witn APC’s manager, Mr. L. A.

Pym.

As a result of this visit, oil-search in Papua will probably be speeded up.

Messrs. Pattinson and Mackilligan have now returned to London. It is under stood that they will recommend the use of five exploration rigs instead of three as at present.

Mr. Mackilligan said that it was more than possible that there was not one drop of workable oil in Papua-New Guinea.

There were what he described as “a few smells—but not even tantalising smells.”

However, if oil were not sought with vigour and every scientific aid, it would not be found at all.

The Acting Director of Education. Fiji, Mr. F. R, J. Davies, has resigned in order to take up a position with the New Zealand Education Department.

An amendment of the Gilbert and Ellice Customs Ordinance. recently gazetted, provides that duty must be paid on ail war disposals goods which re sidents in the Colony may acquire from sales and dumps within the Colony. Dur ing the war, a great many goods of all duty being charged, because they were kinds were taken into the Colony without for the armed services.