Kieta News

From Our Own Correspondent

KIETA, Bougainville, Jan. 28.

MR. FRANK JONES, our new ADO, is settling into his job with energy and resource, and is keen to foster the cordial relations that have always existed here between the Administration and the Planters and Traders of the Dis trict. He has done his first patrol here to Iwi by Numa Numa work-boat, skip pered by Sandy Sanderson.

The Catalina which took off from here for Rabaul on January 18 carried the largest number of European passengers flown out since the service was inaugur ated. They were: Mrs. J. Joyes, of Iwi Plantation; Mrs. Maclennan and three children, who had been enjoying Christ mas at Arawa Plantation: Father Moran, and Sister Juliana, of Tonoru RC Mission: and Mr. K. Hendren, of Works and Housing, Rabaul.

Having completed the big Legu bridge, and a small bridge at Kiopat in the RC Mission area, Mr. John Cox has now begun the Toneva River bridge, a fairly big job, which he hopes to have well under way before he goes on leave to Australia in mid-March.

Mr. and Mrs. lan Westerman cele brated the second anniversary of their wedding by giving a party to Kieta re sidents on the evening of January 29 Present were: A. D. O. Frank Jones, Medical Assistant Gordon Lansdowne, with Mrs. Lansdowne and young Chris topher: Pastor Martin, SDA, of Lumba; and Works Supervisor, John Cox.

Over a year ago. one of our most advanced and intelligent local natives, Rovai. who won the Military Medal for outstanding gallantry during the Japa nese invasi9n, was encouraged by the Administration to plant a rice crop. He was assured that the Government, through the Department of Agriculture, would provide him with the necessary winnowing and husking machinery. In due course the rice grew on Rovai’s land at Mogontoro, was reaped and bagged as it ripened, but, alas, after over a year, the nee is still in the bags and is rotting waiting for the promised machines.