Ng’S Experiment With Sheep

Hallstrom Party in Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent RABAUL, April 28.

AFTER being delayed by engine trouble in Manus, the plane carrying the Hallstrom party arrived here on April 26.

The party consists of Mr. E. J. Hall strom, Sydney businessman, who has in terested himself in native welfare in the Territory to the extent of establishing a sheep-breeding farm in the Central NG Highlands; Mr. J. H. Jones, Director of District Services, Papua-New Guinea; Senator Armstrong; Mr. R. Horner, Cine sound cameraman; and Mr. S. Wood of Fox Movietone.

They visited Bitapaka war cemetery, Vunapope Mission, Kokbpo, Kerevat Ex perimental Farm, Vunarima Methodist Mission and Catholic schools in Rabaul; and they left for Lae on April 27.

Mr. Hallstrom informed “PIM” that the Romney Marsh sheep which he sent to the New Guinea Highlands are all doing well—especially the 50 animals sent there 18 months ago—and that a number of them have been distributed among native communities. The natives, he says, are using the wool instead of opossum fur and similar things for the weaving of garments. About 50 per cent, of the ewes have lambed quite satisfactorily. The experiment—the establishment of cold country sheep in the tropical highlands— is being watched by many people with great interest.

Recently in Brisbane on his way back to Sangara mission, New Guinea, after leave in London, was the Rev. Dennis Taylor with his wife and son. In J 942, when the Japs invaded Buna, the three

of them (the son then only six months old), trekked 100 miles across New Guinea.

It took 14 days from Wanigela mission station to Abu, on the New Guinea South Coast. Mr. Taylor said they followed a Government trail, “and it was pretty tough going over swamps and moun tainous country—but we didn’t meet any Japs.” He went to the Sangara mission in 1944 after all the missionaries there had been killed.