Governor-General

Australian Governor-General Visit to Papua and New Guinea

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Aug. 3.

THE Governor-General of Australia, Mr.

J McKell, left here to-day to begin his New Guinea tour; and the people of Moresby relaxed after a mild flurry of seven days.

Invitations were issued for the recep tion to Mr. McKell held at Government House here on the day of his arrival (July 27), and those who had declared them selves not interested in the Governor- General semed as pleased as anyone else when they were included in the list.

A day or two before Mr. McKell arrived the town burst into activity. Finishing touches were put to the rather sickly looking gardens which had been hurriedly planted in the main street: a new coat was sprayed on the bitumen roads; traffic posts appeared on a dangerous corner (where they had been needed for years); an area of Ela Beach was fenced in and became a children’s playground: the wreck of a pavilion on the recreation ground was repaired and made to look fairly re spectable with bright paint.

Everyone said; “It just shows what can be done.”

The Governor-General stepped from his private plane at Jackson’s Strip and was met by the Administrator and nearly evervone of official importance in the town. A guard of honour of native police, and the native police band, added to the impressiveness of the event.

After the Government House reception, a public reception was held at the recrea tion ground at night.

On July 28, Mr. McKell visited the police training depot at Sogeri, stopping at the Kokoda Trail monument en route. Thence he went to the Sogeri education centre, and Koitaki Rubber Estate; and, on the return trip, he inspected Bomana War Cemetery and Bomana Gaol.

The programme on July 29 included visits to Government and mission schools, and a ceremony at the recreation ground, at which Mr. McKell inspected European and native girl guides, met village councillors and watched native dances.

At night he was entertained at the RSL Club.

On July 30, Mr. McKell visited Yule Island and attended a dinner at the Papua Club. On Sunday, July 31, he at tended Divine Service at St. John’s Church of England.

August 1 was occupied by a visit to the APC drilling camp at Hohoro. On August 2 the Governor-General made an aerial tour of the Kokoda, Buna, Dogura areas, visiting the European and native hos pitals at Moresby after his return.

To-day, Mr. McKell left for Bulolo, and other centres. He will return here on August 11, and will leave for Australia on August 13.