New Ireland Notes
p. 97 · Read in the full issue
Kavieng Dec. 1
KAVIENG Club (1949) has purchased the pre-war site of the Bank of NSW and the ground is being cleared for the new building. Who knows, we may be sitting around the “Round Table” within a few months! Tom Render is the energetic secretary, and as it took him an hour to read all the correspondence etc., at the last annual meeting, it looks as though he’s done a mighty big job.
No wonder Errol Flynn admired a Kavieng “meri”—they can wear a semi transparent “Mother Hubbard” with the same grace and sex-appeal as the Hanuabadan sways her grass skirt. Meet ’em anywhere on a bush track in New Guinea and the meris scurry off into the scrub in sheer fright. But not the New Ireland belles; they say “Good day, Master” as they pass you on the road and give a suitable smile.
Most of the war damage money paid to natives here found its way into the coffers of a dozen Chinese trade stores.
Some of these Chinese are wealthy; but most of them are generous.
Many natives, too, are economically independent. They have their own coco nut groves and small sun-driers, and it takes little effort to produce a bag of copra, which they can sell for £3. Several have trucks of their own and many now have copra-buying licences.
I’ve always said that New Guinea's destiny is tied up with “black ivory” from Aitape or the Sepik, or the immigration of a few thousand coolies from the East.
It looks as though industry would be at a standstill throughout the Territory were it not for the good old Aitapes and Sepiks helping us out of our dilemma.
These fine, upstanding lads are slashing boilers, give little trouble, and don’t run to the “kiap” with every trivial com plaint. Yes, we have to thank these ‘boys” very much for our post-war re habilitation.
Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Schultze and their ;wo charming little daughters, Dorothea md Carol, are now comfortably settled n at “Lebrechtshof,” where many a lappy party took place before and since ;he war.
Gone South: The Misses Stanfield, Mr. •V. J. (Bill) Grose.
“Beeps” have been going to start here or a long time. Their presence, together vith a big freezer, would be greatly ap preciated, as fresh meat flown in from vabaul spasmodically is an expensive tern. Probably the big firm will establish tself at Kavieng once the wharf has >een re-built. I hear a start is being nade to rebuild the wharf very soon. It ui 1 welcom ?> for then we shall be ible to get ships direct from overseas, nus considerably reducing the cost of ivmg which is exceptionally high here, t will also save double-handling of copra.
The new native hospital, built for the department of Public Health by a firm t Chinese contractors, vies with any nmg the Administration had in New jumea before the war. The newly ecupied District Office is also a ommendable permanent structure; while he European and Asiatic Hospitals, mien should be completed within a few /eeks, will also be worthy and well leeded acquisitions to the District. The •regress and prosperity of the District of rreland is due not only to the “guts” i the pre-war residents who came back nd started off scratch, but also to a wise nd long-sighted policy pursued by administration officers of vision and understanding.