Western Papua Notes

From Our Own Correspondent DARU, August 20.

THREE European carpenters from the Department of Works & Housing are now busily engaged on construc tion of the two pre-fabricated houses landed some months ago. One of these is for the Doctor the other for the Dis trict Labour Officer. Progress of con struction has been notable, and the writer has seen local natives watching with evident interest, and possibly some amaze ment, the speed with which the buildings go up.

Ambitious Merchant

In a local store the other day the fol lowing conversation took place between the storekeeper and a local native.

Storekeeper: “Yes, what you want?”

LN: “You want buy tie?”

Storekeeper: “How much?”

LN: “One pound ten. This is a good one. I get him from Mr. So and So’s store in Port Moresby.”

Storekeeper: “No, thanks, too dear.”

Local native departs, still holding crumpled tie in his hand.

This happened after the visit of Judge Gore, on Supreme Court Circuit, and possibly the native had noticed that ties were more in evidence than usual and thought they were worth something.

Court Procedure

At the Supreme Court sittings, pre sided over by Judge Gore, one of the cases, a charge of murder, was interesting, insofar as the body was not found.

A native from Lake Murray was charged with the murder of a young native girl, aged seven years, and he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to seven years, with hard labour.

In these cases it is noteworthy that Court procedure is different from the form usually known in Australia. Here, the Judge is, to all intents and purposes, Prosecutor, Judge and Defence, rolled into one. This system has been followed for many years in this Territory.

Visitors

Mr. Lyall Lush, artist and publisher, of Adelaide, was a guest recently of the Unevangelised Fields Mission at Wasua.

Mr. Lush was investigating the possibility of publishing books suitable for native school children. Some of his drawings of natives and river scenery were out standing.

Mrs. E. Standen, of the Bamu River Mission, visited Port Moresby recently and, whilst there, gave a talk over 9PA on Mission work in the Bamu River area.

Mrs. N. Zammit, of Cairns, accompanied by her two children, has just completed a visit to her parents’ home at Daru.

She returned via Thursday Island on Mr.

T. Holland’s vessel, the Pauline.

Mr. H. P. Beach has completed his fiftieth anniversary since first coming to this Division. He is at present the BNG Trading Co.’s manager on Daru.

A son was born in Port Moresby, Papua, recently to Mr. and Mrs. T. Rosser.