Madang Newsletter

From Our Own Correspondent MADANG, March 15.

OVER the past few weeks, Madang has seen many changes in official places.

But most people who managed to re turn here from leave seem glad to be back in “good cld Madang.” Living costs are still on the up-grade but the arrival of a price commissioner raises our hopes a little.

The long felt need of a local library is at last to be met. Miss Joyce Wedd will be librarian. If she makes as good a job of running the library as she did the school, we will all be quite happy.

Meetings have been called to promote a kindergarten in the district, Mr. Dave Rees suggested the scheme which will be organised in the district by RSSAILA, aided financially by the Social Club. Dis trict Officer Charles Bates has promised support. Probably one building will even tually house library, kindergarten, RSSAILA and other approved organisa tions.

In the eastern bay near the district officer’s old house, a swimming pool has been erected. At the moment much train ing in all sports is going on in prepara tion for proposed trip of local sporting team to Rabaul at Easter time.

With an energetic committee, including Mr. A. J. Clark, secretary, and Mr. A.

Ashton, treasurer, the Social Club is func tioning well. The recent acquisition of a billiard table pleases men members.

Burns Philp are at present engaged in building bulk stores and main store on their land close to the wharf. Mr. Jack Sherry, local accountant for the Firm, has gained the envy of the town by his recent acquisition of a racy little cream ear. He returned recently from leave.

Mr. Jack Sedgers, director of New Guinea Company, Ltd., has just returned from a tour of inspection.

Fishing for Sydney’s Taronga Park aquarium is being carried on enthusias tically at Siar, under the supervision of Captain Bill Wilding of Malaita.

Many types of fish have been taken South in the Malaita’s tanks from Madang, As well, Captain Bill takes orchids, snakes, birds or any other type of four-footed, legless or rooted object.

MRS. MARK PITT’S efforts to provide accommodation for travellers have been a great success. Everyone rays “jolly fine kai.” Mrs. Pitt is to be con gratulated on the extraordinary amount of work and talent she has expended on the venture. Madang now has no hotel, although it is the jumping-off place for many outer islands, the Sepik River, We wak and points further north. Lack of accommodation has been an embarrass ment to many travellers in the past.

Travelling through the port recently en route to Wewak were Mrs. W. Scannell; and Mr. and Mrs. Peinburg, with infant daughter, on transfer from Madang to Wewak.

Arrival of MV Merkur in port coincided recently with a Saturday night ball in aid of the sports team’s Easter trip to Rabaul.

Arrival of about 60 passengers added to the general fun and merriment. Great bowls of curry and rice were served for supper. Among Merkur’s passengers was Miss Betty McKell, daughter to Australia’s Governor-General. On board, too. was Mr. Carthie, of Paramount News Service.

He spent some time at Siar filming native sing-sings and village life.

Madang wharf continues to receive minor repairs but there are still many traps for the unwary on the unrepaired areas. A Quonset hut is being erected for a customs shed near the wharf. Mr.

Jack Goad takes over, as Collecter, from Mr. Don Cameron on completion of leave.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Paisley, of Kar Kar Island, caused some consternation in Madang when lost for eight days. Ap parently their 16 ft, launch’s engine gave up the struggle on the way over to the mainland but, hoisting sail, they were lucky enough to make Bagabag Island.

Planes circled round Bagabag looking for them on the day they left that island to sail back to Kar Kar and the next day a plane circled Kar Kar and located the launch safe on the eastern shore of the island.

Mr. Jerry Toogood, Ado Of Kai

nantu, was in town recently making preparations for a tour into the Ramu Valley covering uncontrolled Ter ritory. On part of his route he will go over the border into Papua. The area will be mapped.

The Lutheran Mission Conference at Baitabag caused great interest in the Territory. Mr. W. C. Groves, Director of Education, flew from Port Moresby to be present at the conference.

Police are searching the Saidor area for a native who attacked his wife with an axe. Dr. N. P. Wood made a great effort to save the woman’s life but she later died.

Several overseas ships have taken Madang’s copra to England.

A quiet but attractive wedding was that of Sister Kremer to Mr. Tony Dunn. Mr.

Don Cameron gave the bride away; Mr.

Maahs officiated at the ceremony; Sisters McElnea and Kowitz made the cake, while Mrs. C. Bates prepared the rest of the feast. After a fortnight’s honeymoon, Sister is back at her job of ministering to the sick.

Madang’s Chinatown has been display

ing (and selling) various Eastern goods.

Included in the last shipments were cam phorwood chests, materials, shirts, trin kets and various lingerie. It was like pre war days to see the shops full of Euro peans anxious to obtain the artistic handiwork of the East.

Endeavouring to establish himself as a professional collector of butterflies and

other insects, Mr. Keith Slatter has had some recognition of his work from over seas specialists and museums. Hamnered by lack of bottles, and other supplies, Mr.

Slatter has not allowed these drawbacks to kill his interest in his work.

It seems a pity, however, that so much is being sent out of the Territory in the way of live animals, fish, reptiles, bird

and plant life, natural-life specimens and native objets-d’art while the Terri tory is making no provision for museums, or zoos or collections for the instruction of future generations of its own people.

Trees planted by Mr. Roy Vicary are al ready throwing some shade on the Modil lon Road. It is hoped that the work of planting ornamental trees, started so enthusiastically by Mr. Vicary, will be carried on by other enthusiasts. The Vicarys are returning to the Territory with their new daughter on April Maiaita.