New Air Service

And A New Doctor

Daru, May 26.

MR. E. HICKS, who has been in charge of the Administration outpost at Lake Murray for some 15 months, recently proceeded to Thursday Island for dental treatment. It is noteworthy that Mr. Hicks appeared in very good health after such a lengthy stay at the very isolated station.

The Qantas Catalina, on charter to the Civil Aviation Dept., arrived at Daru a few days ago, and brought a large party of officials. Mr. Ivan Champion was soon in consultation with Mr. H. Thompson, our District Officer, whilst Mr. Colin Simpson, of the ABC brought along his recorder and placed on wire a few native songs. He also “bagged” a couple of song-and-dance acts by a few natives from Kiunga, a place several hundred miles up the Fly River. These natives happened to have been brought to Daru only recently by a Govt, launch.

We were informed that a regular Cata lina service will be commencing “almost

immediately”: perhaps steak-and-onions,

as a regular part of our diet, will come true, soon. An examination was made of the Daru ’drome by Civil Aviation officials. Some improvements such as lengthening the strip were mentioned.

Very good news for this Division was the announcement that Dr. Boyd has been appointed to Daru as Medical Officer—this being the first time such an appointment has been made. It is not forgotten that the late Dr. Vernon was available, in the long ago, but not as a permanent appointee. Dr. Boyd was landed by the Qantas Catalina at Lake

Murray, where he will spend a few weeks on a medical patrol. European Medical Assistants have done a great job, over the years, and credit must be given them for sterling service. To have a fully qualified Doctor on hand will be a com forting thought, not only to Europeans but also to the native population, to whom his principal effort will be directed. It is to be hoped that work will commence soon on the Doctor’s resi dence. This was dismantled and most of the material is lying under the District Office.