Notes and News About Buka

and Bougainville Folk

From Our Own Correspondent

Buka Passage, Dec. 29.

THE Administrator (Colonel J. K.

Murray), paid a visit to Sohano on December 6 and 7, arriving by Cata lina at 7.30 a.m. With him were Dr.

Gunther, Director of Health and Dr. May, Assistant Director of Health. During his stay His Honor met the various Adminis tration officials and some residents of the district. It was his intention and the medical represent!ves’ to visit the Tas man and Mortlock Groups in the Cata lina, but weather conditions prevented landings being made and the plane re turned to Sohano in the afternoon, and took off for Rabaul at about 4 p.m. on the same day. The whole visit to Sohano was a pleasant affair and gave general satisfaction.

Our District Officer, Mr. Raleigh Farlow, is now on leave and we understand that he proposes to visit Norfolk Island where he was Commandant for a time during the recent war. Mrs. Farlow and the girls preceded him to Australia. Rumour says that he will be stationed in another area when he returns to New Guinea.

Mrs. Alma Good is carrying on at Kessa, in North Buka, despite the isolated posi tion, lack of shipping, and other in conveniences that are part of the daily life of the outports resident. One must pay tribute to the grit of our Territory womenfolk, who accept all these things as part of the daily round. Thanks to Mrs. Good’s energy and knowledge of local conditions the plantation is producing its share of copra.

Father Albert Lebel, that man of energy and resource, conducted the Christmas Service, and later rejoicings, at the Tea rouki Mission in a manner characteristic of him. Whatever he tackles he does “with his might.” The Mission now has some fine buildings on it, strongly con structed houses of native material and some Quonsett huts. They grew under the Father’s capable supervision—and often under his own hands. One recalls the work he did among the Coast Watching fraternity—even refusing evacuation by submarine—in order to continue his medical assistance to them. At the time the Japs were very keen to lay hands on him, but he managed to keep one jump ahead as he did his rounds! Father Lebel also did a term as Chaplain on various US warships.

IVjEWS of the death of Skipper Ernie Vider, in Sydney, came as a shock to our com munity. He went away on sick leave some months ago but everyone was hoping for his speedy return to health. He was an old time islander with experience in several Groups, and he had handled Administration vessels for a number of years. He was, like so many Ter ritorians a “two war” man.

The Rev. Gordon Cornwell has taken over the Methodist Mission activities in Buka. His pre decessor, the Rev. Clarrie Luxton, went to New Zealand to try to recover his health. Mr.

Cornwell is a man of parts, who served with the NZ Engineers, then joined the Navy and was on MTBs in the English Channel where he got badly shot up. After recovery, nothing daunted, he became an Engineer Test Pilot in an aeroplane works. He can be classed as a imiseula-r Christian. Mrs. Cornwell, also a New Zealander, is with him.

Mr. Max Babbage of Karoola Plantation, Buka, has not let any grass grow under his feet during the last year. In addition to pro ducing from his coconut area, he has planted about 30,000 cocoa trees which are doing well.

In addition he acts as Hon, Secretary f®r Bougainville Branch of the Planters’ Associa tion, and also for the recently formed Bougain ville Association. He goes to Sydney in January on leave.

We are to lose our popular Education Officer,

Mr. Frank Boisen, who has done good work dur ing his stay among us. He has opened up new schools and kept a watchful eye on those al ready operating. Recently he went to Rabaul to get his Military Cross from the Governor General. He goes to Rabaul shortly for duty.

He and Mrs. Boisen will be missed.

Mr. Paul Mason, and Mrs. Mason, of Inus, are off to England in the New Year. Mrs.

Mason, who was a Sydney journalist prior to her marriage, has been acting as Bougainville correspondent for the ABC and has helped to put our district on the map. All concerned will wish these popular people, and excellent citizens, a thoroughly enjoyable time whilst on tour.

Mr. Alf Long, of Bonis Plantation, in Buka Passage, has done a good job. He now has

fine Ceylon Driers elected, good copra shed and a stone jetty, alongside which the inter island ships can lie. No matter what comes or goes he proceeds on his way, as seems to be the idea with the old timers. Mrs, Long enjoys the place and is happy with her splendidly situated house and her books.

Mr. Bob Cole, who did fine work in Buin area for the Administration, has now been ap pointed Acting District Officer for Bougainville.

This is a happy arrangement and the whole district is pleased. There is very much to be done in the area in the way of straightening up villages, re-opening roads, and general patrol ling.

During a recent visit, the Administrator pre sented the Military Cross to Mr. Bob Stuart of Tenekau Plantation, Bougainville, who won the

decoration in Bougainville while serving with the AIB. There was a gathering of local resi dents at the ceremony and, afterwards Stuart received hearty congratulations.

Mr. Claude Campbell went South in December with the intention of proceeding to England on a holiday and health trip. Mrs. Campbell, and daughter (Mrs. Nari Forster), accompany him. During his re-habilitation of Raua Plan tation there were many trials and set-backs, but the state of Raua is a testimonial to Camp bell’s efforts. He has been a keen worker for the Planters’ Association and Bougainville As sociation, and before sailing went especially to Canberra to lay before the new Minister for External Territories our various disabilities.

A new member of the District Services at Sohano is Mr. Colin McLean, who takes over the duties of ADO for Buka and North Bougainville. .He was brought up in the Terri tory and joined the Administration as a youngster. He is conversant with the things that matter. Mrs. McLean, senior, is staying with him at Sohano.

One of the district’s greatest assets is our medico, Dr, Ken Pike, who is one of the well known Brisbane family of that name. He was here previously and residents appreciate his skill, genial ways and desire to help everybody needing his attention. A trip at any time, to anywhere, in order to help sick folk is part of Dr. Ken’s creed. In the native hospital he has made some fine cures and the natives say, in praise of his skill: “Dokitor belong me fella savvy too much—this Dokitor ’e No. 1 true.”

Mr. Ernie Wilkinson with Mrs. Wilkinson and son John have now returned from southern leave and look very fit. Wilkinson has re sumed his duties as Senior Medical Assistant.

Mr. Freddie Cattell, who was holding the fort during Medical-Assistant Wilkinson’s ab sence, went on to Talasea where he will com plete his term and then go South. He opened the first Native Hospital in Buka in 1928 and had Mrs. Cattell and his young family with him on Sohano when it was mostly bush. His name as a Medical Assistant is a byword throughout New Guinea as he served in most districts. His two sons, Fred and Jack, were brought up in the Territory but after a period back here, after the war ended, they decided that conditions were against them and left

the country. They now have a farming pro perty in Gatton, Queensland, where they are doing well. Fred, Snr., intends shortly to join his sons, and so the Territory loses three fine citizens which it can ill afford. All three have had war service.

Mr. Gordon McKenzie, formerly in charge of Public Works in Bougainville, is now managing Karoola Plantation, Buka, for Mr. Max Babbage.

He is keenly interested in agricultural matters and is settling in to his new life. He has had a fine two-war record, having been in the Navy on both occasions—in the first scrap he was interested in submarines and during the late war was with surface craft in the Pacific.

He retired from the Navy with the rank of Engineer Commander, and, also with the DSC and Bar. Mrs. McKenzie, who hails from Papua, is with him.

MR. ALICK BEST, who was formerly in charge of a section of Army Water Transport at Rabaul, is now situated on the Bonis-Tinputz road in North Bougainville, and is developing some land there. Mrs. Best, who was formerly a Matron in AANS—in Darwin amongst other places—is with her husband. It is a real pioneering venture.

Mr. R. McGregor, late of the British Solomons, is now manager at Soraken Plantation. He was formerly in charge of the well-known Lin gatu, in the Russell Group, in BSI, for Lever’s Pacific Plantations, and is a thoroughly ex perienced man. During the Solomons campaign he was with the British Solomons forces and attached to the Americans. In the earlier war he had served with a Scottish regiment in France.

Mr, Douglas Parrish, who was ADO at Kieta until recently, started off on leave but was side-tracked to Kokopo. He did a splendid job at Kieta; and the effects of his patrols were noticeable in the district and among the local natives who were at work in their villages and gardens. While at Kokopo the recent earth quake shifted his house off its piles, but he promptly moved it back into position, showing that faith (and work), will move mountains, houses and administration problems!

Mr. Maurice Needham, formerly of Papua, is now managing Raua Plantation for Mr. Claude

Campbell. Mrs. Needham and family are with him. Quite recently there was a cloud burst in the hills behind Raua, causing a big flood in the nearby river and such erosion that two of the buildings were carried away to sea and others threatened. To make it more disturbing this occurrence took place at night.

Mr. N. Chester, well known in Moresby, has been Chief Clerk at Sohano for some months and has settled in with Mrs. Chester and tw(o children. He has been very active in getting the

Former Sister Burrage, of the staff of the Apia Hospital, Western Samoa, was married in Apia in November to Mr. Pat Kelly, a well known plantation manager, of Western Samoa.

former Sohano Club onto its feet again and attends to the secretarial duties involved. The building is up and furniture supplied, in part.

A tennis court is also one of the fixtures. It is a much needed institution.

Two new arrivals at Sohano are Sub-Inspec tor Charlie Carr of the Police, who is relieving whilst Mr. Jack Butler is on leave; and Keith Aitken who is in charge of Public Works here abouts. The Sohano residents value their ser vices, as whilst one maintains order, the other maintains the very necessary power that sheds light in dark places, keeps wheels turning and supplies water as required.

Mrs. Iris Hunt, well-known and popular wife of Mr. Harvey Hunt, of Suva, pro ceeded to New Zealand in November on her travel agency business. While there, she became seriously ill, and was still in hospital in Auckland in December. How ever, she is improving, and hopes to re turn to Suva in February.

Nine-years-old Nesauiu Rachel, a Tanna girl (New Hebrides) arrived in Sydney on the December Morinda with Dr. William Armstrong and his wife, of the Presby terian Mission. They rescued Rachel soon after her birth when her father at tempted to bury her alive with her mother who had died.