TNG’s Good Wishes To Vic.

Pennefather, of Tokua

From a NG Correspondent KOKOPO District, of New Britain, is the poorer by the departure of Vic Pennefather, of Tokua Planta tion, who, with Mrs. Pennefather and family, will reside in Australia in future and visit the plantation at intervals.

Vic has seemed to become part of the Territory since the first Civil Adminis tration took over from the Australian Military Forces away back in 1920. From those early days he has been popular; and he was always very efficient as an Assis tant District Officer in the various parts of the Territory in which he was stationed. In 1926, he purchased Tokua Plantation from the Expro. Board and settled down to the life of a planter, and he has come to be looked upon as part and parcel of the Kokopo district.

Vic has consistently taken a prominent part in all matters concerning planta tions, racing, cricket and other sporting and social activities. In his earlier days he was a fine boxer in the heavyweight class. He was a member, in pre-war days of the Rabaul, New Guinea and Kokopo Clubs.

When the Japs arrived in Rabaul he was still on his plantation; taut v with some others, he made his escape by the South Coast of New Britain to Australia.

He served with ANGAU in Papua, Solo mons and Bougainville, and after dis charge from the army returned to Tokua m 1946 and went ahead with the re habilitation of his property, which has been in good production for a consider able time. Almost his last job of work before leaving for the South was to go out into the New Britain bush and re cruit a line of natives to work on Tokua.

He has taken an active part in the re habilitation of the now flourishing Kokopo Club, and has been President of the Planter’s Association of New Guinea for the past 18 months.

Vic’s record of active service as a soldier is impressive. As a youngster he served m the Boer War, and in the later

Zulu Rebellion: then he went through World War I and through the Pacific campaign in World War 11. Thus he has four wars to his credit, and a fine breast of ribbons to display. Though a quiet man, he enjoys a good war!

A story is told of an occasion when that veteran soldier, Lieut.-Gen. Stan Savige, who commanded the Australian troops in Bougainville, met Vic Penne father after a parade at Torokina. He ran his eye over Vic’s show of ribbons, then glanced at his own, and smiled as he said: “Do you‘ever pause to consider--as I sometimes do —that there is no fool like an old fool!”

The Territory will wish this stalwart Old-Timer, staunch friend, and good citizen the very best of luck in his new sphere. He will be greatly missed, but he has fairly earned his season of rest.

New Guinea Oil Field Operating

THE new oilfield in Dutch New Guinea is now in production. The first crude oil has been delivered to the port of Sorong, on the extreme western coast of the Vogelkop Peninsula.

Production is estimated at 4,000 barrels per day.

Two 20-year-old Solomon Islanders, Leonard Alafourai and Christian Rouikera, were among the passengers on the Melanesian Mission’s vessel “Southern Cross,” which arrived at Auckland in No vember. They will attend St. John’s Theological College, and expect to be there for about a year. They will then return to the Solomon Islands.