Being Built

Vernon Memorial Hospital

From Our Own Correspondent

Daru, Papua, March 26.

FRIENDS of the Bamu River Mission will be interested to know that, at long last, work has been commenced on building of the “Dr. Vernon Memorial Native Hospital” buildings.

This has been made possible by the generosity of Mr. G. Gwilliams, of' Syd ney, who came to assist in the erection.

Whilst they are waiting for more Euro pean material for the dispensary-labora tory, two wards are going up, together with a special ward and necessary offices —also a hostel for aged Papuans.

This latter is a new venture and, as far as is known, the first such special effort for aged in Papua.

Recently, the Mission was moved to a new site further up the Bamu River, where there is higher ground, more suit able for building.

Mr. George Spitz, a leading resident of Papeete, Tahiti, died in Paoeete on March 13.

Mr. o. Soltwedel—an old New Guinea identity who was deported by the Aus tralian Government—writes from Ger many to say that he finds life in that war-battered region very difficult, after an absence of nearly 40 years. He is living in the country with a nephew, who was with him for a while in New Guinea, and they are not finding it easy to make a living. He has been in consultation with an American group who are in terested in New Guinea minerals, and he hopes he yet may have a chance to re turn to the Territory.