Second Ngvr Reunion
p. 89 · Read in the full issue
THE second annual posc-war reunion of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles was held in the Bulolo Picture Hall, on the evening of January 24.
Sixty-two ex-NGVR members and two guests turned out. Ample supplies of a very popular Victorian brand of beer were available, and the party did not break up until 4 a.m.
Once again, old times were spoken of and, even after all these years, it still had to be decided who were the more valuable, those stationed in the Salamaua area or those in the Lae-Markham area.
It was pleasing to see two members of the former Rabaul detachment, Mr. Jim Peterson and Mr. Geoff. Kilner present.
During the evening Dr. Carl Gunther was elected President and Jim Huxley Secretary-Treasurer of the NGVR Associ ation for the erfsuing 12 months.
It was decided, also, that all future reunions will be held in Bulolo on the rnaay night closest to January 22, of each year.
Those present were:—Messrs. O. Bell, N. Swanson, L. Lane, B. Choula, T.
Shanahan (Wau), B. Fraser (Edie Creek), L. Bergstrand, Dr. C. Gunther, A. Lee, T. Lega, C. Lega, C. Cockram, G. Kilner, R. Duncan, F. Ronald, Ti Powell, J.
Wilton, R. Herald, J. Sheringham, W.
Armstrong, K. Noblet, F. McClafferty, E.
Spence, N. Grieve, G. Griffiths, C.
Cavalieri, T. O’Connell, J. Goodwin, F.
Rose, A. Gibson, C. Jocumsen, W. Grant, G. Sutherland, A. Mac Lean, J. Huxley, L. Crawford, B. Mills, A. Gazzard, G.
Cox, R. Allen, J. Simpson, J. Leslie (Bulolo), W. Edwards, J. Birrell, J. Peter son, J. Mayos, G. Whittaker, S. Hendrick, A. Lane, E. Hitchcock (Lae), J. Allan, L. Ashton, R. Day, T. Zoffman, F. Hal ford (Bulolo River), R. Vandenberg, J.
Poland, C. Moen (Sunshine), W.
Forrester (Ramu) and F. Vickery (Dept, of Forrests, Bulolo), The two visitors present were Mr. N.
Letchfield, ex-2/5 Aust. Ind. Coy., and Mr. R. Burt, ex-RAAF.
Once again the net proceeds of a most successful evening are to be donated to the New Guinea Memorial Scholarship fund, but, as yet, actual figures are not available, although an amount of ap proximately £3O is anticipated.
Golden Peaks, which held up profit able sluicing there; (5) Operations at Koranga Alluvials are still confined to reconstructing the main tail race; (6) The diversion of European and Native labour to build bridges for the Administration, which made further inroads on the available labour force.
The chairman gave a detailed review of the Co.’s position. It was plain that, owing to the very high and ever increasing costs, a large part of the Co.’s leases, previously regarded as rich enough to justify gold recovery, now are not worth working. The only post-war development that favours the Co. is the reduction of transport costs through the use of the war-constructed road between
Labu and the Bulolo Valley, instead of freighting by air.
The Co.’s issued capital now is £950,371 (written down from about £4,000,000). On September 30, it had about £330,000 in cash, and some £65,000 in stores. The balance was represented by mine property £653,431; and build ings, plant and equipment £146,503. Last year, the Co. received £43,864 from interest, and £l3 700 from bullion sales —a total income of £57,565 —but decided to retain the whole in the Co., and pay no divid end. The Co.’s 4/3 shares are quoted at around 2/3 (Aust.) The Co., with a little luck, could get into really profitable production this year. It was just beginning to get the benefit of its reorganisation, in 1941-42, when the Japs came in.