Madang Newsletter

From Our Own Correspondent

Madang, June 30.

THE travelling representative for Kodak, A/sia, Ltd., Mr. Beckett, recently gave an interesting address on the history of photography at the Madang Forum. From the time when photo graphers needed a boy to carry all their equipment, he traced photographic his tory to modern times when criminology uses it as an important branch of its work. In a speech of thanks, the Rev.

A. A. Maahs, a keen amateur photo grapher, said he must be on the retro grade path, as on a recent expedition through the Pinisterres, he required three boys to carry his gear.

MANY Madangites view with sadness the passing of two old rain trees on the road to the District Office: these trees had become dangerous and had to be cut down. Several Australians claim to have planted them, but old Chinese residents claim that the majority of them were part of the original lay out of Madang made by the Germans.

AT Tusbab, the Native Education Centre, a celebration was held on June 15 and 16 on the anniversary of the school’s opening. The first day was spent in competitive sports arranged by the schoolmaster, Mr. Jim Kernan.

Prizes were given out by the District Commissioner, Charles Bates. The second day was devoted to a grouped sing-song.

Since the opening of the school, the roll has grown to over 100 pupils.

In attendance with a recorder was Mr.

Peter Livingstone. Later the recordings will be heard over 9PA.

MR. LEW MEEK, formerly of Modillon Garage office, has been appointed to the Treasury Department of Dis trict Services. He has taken over the Post Office from Mrs. Bill Hansen who resigned during the month. He has been in Madang about four years.

Mandated airlines, '' ltd., have built a new hangar. The passen gers’ lounge will be greatly appreci ated. It is believed that Mr. Bill Passlow, MAL’s chief pilot, is Mhdang’s crtick Canasta player. He can recite any one of the 61 rules without difficulty.

THE Rev. A. A. Maahs returned from the Highlands after a visit to some of his mission stations. He has plans to construct a road from Madang to Yabob. including a Bailey Bridge for the Gum River. This will open the road for private enterprise as well as the Luther an Mission School at Amele. It is un derstood that the plan has the co-opera tion of the Administration. This may be the start of a long dreamed of road to the Highlands.

THE new picture theatre, a bigger and better one, built over the site of the old is nearing completion. Extra comforts will include more seating ac commodation of a permanent nature, and a cement floor.

Plans are in hand for a golf course and a large cement swimming pool.

MR. 808 BOGLE is back after his recent trip South for health rea sons. Mrs. Dunne (Sister Krem mer) has gone South on well-earned leave. Mr. Dunne will join her in Aus tralia in a few weeks’ time. Mr. Jack Sedgers, managing director of the New Guinea Companv, returned to Madang after a tour of inspection of various branches in the Territory. His daughters,

Jac and Jill, are back from Sydney after an extended holiday. Miss Betty Schil ling is also back from leave in Australia.

Most of the pupils in Mrs. T. Radke’s Asiatic School speak good English (or American, anyway) and in some cases have completed in a year an education missed during the Japanese invasion.

Mrs. Radke’s latest effort is to teach them touch-typing.

A Texan, Mrs. Radke celebrated her 25 years of mission work in New Guinea this year. Pew people’s names will have the lustre in Madang history to equal this missionary teacher’s reputation.

RESIDENTS are wondering whether they are experiencing an exception ally long “wet” season or a wet

“dry” season. In either case, the last week in June saw deluges in the day time—most unusual in the district—while Lae and Kavieng report droughts.