And Bougainville

Personal Notes From Buka And Bougainville

Prom a Special Correspondent MR. and MRS PAUL MASON, of Inus Plantation, Bougainville, have booked passage for England on the “Mooltan,” which leaves Sydney in June.

Friends will wish them a very happy trip as they are a popular couple hereabouts.

Paul, of course, is now Bougainville’s best known citizen, owing to his long residence and splendid record with the Coast Watchers in the desperate days of 1942-43. His daring and initiative earned him high British and US decorations, and the thanks of Admiral Halsey, at Guadal canal.

Miss Ette Taylor, of Sydney, who has been spending a holiday with her sister, Mrs. Paul Mason, at Inus, has now re turned to Sydney carrying pleasant re collections or the district and people.

Mr. A. M. Stewart is back from southern leave and has taken over the management of Teopasine Plantation again. Mrs.

Stewart is remaining in Australia for the present.

Our old friend, Skipper Ernie Vider, is here temporarily with the Administration trawler “Comworks,” relieving the local Administration trawler, which is away having its “innards” overhauled Ernie knows these waters well and when there is a run to do time, tide and weather seldom delay him. He must be the senior skipper in the Administration service now.

Ernie took his former ship out of Rabaul Harbour in January, 1942, at the eleventh hour, as the Japanese were arriving, and made good his escape. He is a veteran of World War I and served in last war as well.

A popular figure at Sohano is Mr. G.

Mackenzie, who is in charge of Public Works in the area, which includes mechanical matters on the island. Soon after his arrival he restored the electric light plant, which had been very unwell for a long time. This meant light for longer periods and the brightening of dark places. Busy housewives who are able to use their electric irons, bless his name. “Mac” has married since his arrival and Mrs. Mackenzie has settled to life at Sohano.

Word comes that Ron Pickwell, that energetic an i cheery soul, who was Medical Assistant at Sohano for quite a time, has returned from a long leave in Australia and is now stationed at Rabaul.

Mrs. Pickwell returned with him and likes Rabaul after out-station life. Residents of the district remember with gratitude the breezy manner of Ron and his ready assistance to those requiring same.

Mr. Jiin~Joyes, of Iwi Estate, Kieta, recently arrived back from a recruiting trip to Aitape, bringing some 25 natives for work on his plantation. Although landing these recruits in Bougainville was an expensive matter, he is convinced that it is the only way to keep up copra pro duction. The local indolent indigene ap pears to have given up all manner of work, owing to the horrible effects it has on the system! Jim has put in some hard work on Iwi since his return in 1946, and has achieved results.

"Mr. (Charley Cooke, who was well known in Buka as manager of Tulaen Plantation, is back in the Territory after a long spell in Australia, and is now at Pondo, New Britain. Mrs. Cooke is with him. They were at Ehiirau (Squally Island), north of Kavieng when the three German raiders called there in December, 1940, and landed 500 or so prisoners from Allied ships that

they had sunk. Before landing them a German officer came off, and, meeting Charley and wife on the road, politely an nounced their intention. Charley says he hardly liked to refuse them!

Mr. Ernie Wilkinson, who has been Medical Assistant at Sohano for some months, is proceeding on southern leave with Mrs. Wilkinson and son John. Ernie has done a good job whilst here and resi dents will be sorry to part with him and his popular wife. Both of them served in the recent war.

Mrs, Elma Good has now taken over the active management of her plantation, Kessa, in North Buka area. She resided on the plantation for many years before the war and her husband, Percy Good, met a tragic end there at the hands of Japanese naval forces. It is no light job to run a plantation and all admire her grit and wish her success in the under taking.

Mr. Percy Cream, who has been in charge of Kessa for seven months, pro ceeded to Rabaul by “Mirigini” at end of March.

Bishop T. J. Wade, of the Marist Mis sion, is back again after spending some months in Australia, during which, in characteristic style, he covered a lot of country. He is now moving round his Diocese in his speedy launch, but he has become used to constant sea travel in his 24 years in the Solomons, and takes good and bad weather as it comes.

Mr. Bennie White, who has managed Arigua Plantation, Bougainville, for two years, has gone south with his wife and family for a spell. Bennie was in a Com mando unit that operated in Bougainville during the Jap occupation, and later won a DCM when associated with Paul Mason in their geurilla warfare at the southern end of the Island. Bennie has taken well to plantation life and fits in nicely.

Pastor Cyril Pascoe, of the Seventh Dav Adventist Mission, has been transferred to Lae, much to the regret of his friends.

He was of pre-war vintage and knew the Bougainville natives very well. Like all “Seventh Day” natives his flock were noted for their civility, cleanliness and the manner in which their villages were kept.

During the Japanese occupation of Bougainville their assistance to the Coast Watchers was of great value. The de- Sarture of Pastor Pascoe and wife will e felt, as their motto has always been “Service with a smile” to all whom they could help along.

Advices received here say that Group Captain Billy Duncan, who owns Lalahan Plantation in Buka Passage, is now in China, where he holds a responsible

position with UNRA. Billy was an ex officer of the Air Force and was called up for duty at outbreak of war in 1939.

He is a son of Captain Jimmy Duncan, of Rapopo Plantation, Kokopo.

A recent addition to local vessels is the “Midas” which was brought up from Aus tralia by Buka Plantations Ltd., who own Numa Numa. The vessel now looks very trim and is in charge of Mr. Frank Riordan, who attends to all engineering matters at Numa Numa.

Mr. Claude Campbell, of Raua Estate, Bougainville is preparing to take an ex tended holiday in Australia, after a strenuous three years re-opening the coconut plantation and replacing build ings and dryers with such materials as were available. He had made a good job of it all, and has the place in fine shape generally. Claude was the last man to leave his plantation in Bougainville in 1942 and was the first to tackle the re habilitation problem in March, 1946. He and Mrs. Campbell hope to leave for the South in July. They will be accompanied by their daughter, Mrs, Nari Forster.

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Kelly have also pro ceeded to Buin where Mr. Kelly has been posted as Patrol Officer. He served a pre vious term in this district.

Mr. Bob Coles has returned from leave and again takes up his duties as ADO at

Buin. He has made his name there as an efficient and wide awake officer and satisfaction is expressed at his return to the same area. Mrs. Coles accompanies her husband to Buin.

Rev. Clarry Luxton, of Skeleton Mis sion, is leaving for the BSI where he will take up duty as Assistant Chairman of Methodist Missionary Society of New Zealand. He came to Buka some 10 years ago and has many regrets at leaving; but he is taking an upward step, and also takes with him many good wishes. In January, 1942, when Kieta was evacuated, he took the District Officer and staff, to gether with the Medical staff and some plantation people—l 4 in all—ln his ketch “Biloea” to Port Moresby, and safety.

Mr. Hamish Munro is in charge of postal matters at Sohano and has earned the gratitude of the district residents by his constant courtesy at the District Office, and the care with which he handles the mail. His desire to ensure safe and prompt delivery of mail matter to outside people is much appreciated by all con cerned. Hamish is pretty well known in TNG having served a pre-war apprentice ship with Burns, Philp, and was with ANGAU during the war. Mrs. Munro and son, Donald, are also at Sohano.

Mr. and Mrs. Sandford, of Numa Numa, went south a few weeks ago on furlough.

“Sandy” is one of our elder residents now and has spent all his time at Numa Numa.

During the war period he served with the RAAF and later with the AIB in Bougain ville. His work gained him a DSO.

Old timers were grieved to hear of the death, through accident, of Mr. Tom Skiffington, on the goldfields. He was on Kessa Plantation for a time and left there in 1932 to go to Edie Creek, to take up mining. Tom, who had been a gold, tin and gem miner in his younger days in Australia, came to New Guinea in 1922,

and managed coconut plantations in Manus Group and in Buka for 10 years before returning to his beloved mining.

He will long be remembered for his cheer fulness, boundless energy, and generosity to friends or a good cause. Though self educated, he was a well-read man, and, having a prodigious memory, held his own on most subjects. He was a soldier in World War I and served in France with the AIF, and fellow Diggers have testified to his loyalty and courage. The Territory is the loser by his passing.

The Methodist Mission at Kekesu, Teop has had a run of bad luck recently. Both Rev. and Mrs. Trevor Shepherd have been severely ill, as has Sister Merle Carter.

Fortunately that capable person, Sister Winifred Poole, was on the spot and handled the situation with her usual energy and efficiency. Sister Poole holds high New Zealand nursing degrees and residents regret her impending departure for the British Solomons. Sympathy is felt for the members of the hospitable Kekesu household and it is hoped they will have better luck in the future.

Mr. Frank Boisen, of the Education De partment, with Mrs. Boisen, have been residents at Sohano for some months.

Frank produces a roneo sheet weekly, called “Buka News” which gives in formation of local happenings, in Pidgin English, to the local natives. This helps to off-set the wild rumours that spring from the source known as “Coconut Wireless” and thus serves an excellent purpose. One meets natives who carry the latest “city” edition in a cleft stick as they proceed homewards. After perusal the sheet can be used for smoking paper in these times of scarcity. Frank is at pre sent busy with the opening of a Native School down Buin way. He served in Bougainville during the war period, and, like so many others, got to like its pic turesque ruggedness.

The engagement is announced of Miss Florence Fraser, of Fiji, to Mr. George C.

Kavanagh, of Cleveland, Queensland.

Mrs Katherine Cahill has returned to Madang, New Guinea after spending several months in Brisbane and Sydney.

Mr. and Mrs. George Purdy left Bris bane recently for their home in Aoba, New Hebrides. They expect to settle in Queensland towards the end of this year.