Madang Newsletter

From Our Own Correspondent

Madang, July 30.

NATIVES of Gragad Island (Kranket) are rehabilitating themselves on the island. This island has had an in teresting history since German occupa tion of the district, about 1885.

In the early days, the Germans adopted the island language as a business language for the district while gradually introducing pidgin English. In 1901, the German Lutheran Mission established a house there but ill luck dogged the oc cupants as the first one returned to Ger many ill, and two others died there.

In 1904 the islanders revolted against the Germans but at its conclusion, several islanders were baptised. The main revo lution in this area took place in 1911 when, among others, Gragad Islanders were deported to various parts of the district.

Under a more humane British and Aus tralian treatment the natives were re turned to their island but much of their property was lost. During the residence of the American Lutheran Mission two houses were erected and a temporary store later replaced by the partially stand ing cement store in Madang. These mis sionaries, during Japanese occupation were imprisoned on the island, while the natives moved, or were removed, to the Mainland near the present site of Beliau Village.

Now once more returned to their island homes thev have “townplanned” their village and established a small bakery and a woodcutting business. As well, they are building a copra dryer with the aim of producing copra for industry.

Several shipwrecks, a huge bomb crater and old Radar equipment are significant reminders of war on the island.

ABOUT SO Europeans and 6,000 natives of this district attended the open ing and dedication of the American Lutheran Mission Hospital in the Amele Mission Area, on July 23.

Construction on the hospital started nearly three years ago when the first attempts were made to ferry materials across the Gum River by rafts and on to the station up a tortuous road by lorries.

Funds were raised by the American Women’s Mission Federation and the Australian Lutheran Mission. Work on the buildings was done by volunteer con tingents of young men from the church in America and Australia. Planned in America, the hospital comprises a series of units connected by breezeways. In cluded are X-Ray equipment; eye, ear, nose and throat ward; a medical library; dispensary; operating theatres with ob servation sections for doctor boys; den tal rooms, residences for the staff, de livery rooms: and wards.

Set on a hill about 1,000 feet above sea level the hospital commands a glori ous panorama of jungle foreground with a backcloth of mountain ranges along the Rai Coast and Astrolobe Bay.

MR. AND MRS. G. BAILEY, with four year-old daughter, Sandra, went South from Madang in the last Malaita. Mr. Bailey has just completed three years as Chief Clerk, Goroka, Cen tral Highlands. He and Mr. Bailey spoke glowingly of Goroka and the beautiful Bulolo type house they occupied.

SOME vegetables and rhubarb from the Highlands have been coming down to Madang recently. All residents appreciate these things very much.

RECENT visitors to the town included artist William Dobell. He has been for some time in the Territory pre

paring an exhibition of paintings for an Australian Exhibition.

ME. PETER LAWRENCE spoke at the Madang Forum on July 11. He has spent several months in the valleys of the Ramu and its tributaries, among primitive natives. He will return to London with some valuable informa tion for his MA thesis.

AT a representative meeting arranged for the Director of Health, Dr.

Gunther, emphatic speeches were made by Mr. Ben Hall and Mr. E. Wau chope against combining native and Europeans in one hospital. However, Dr. Gunther cleared away any misap prehensions by explaining that, while the one X-Ray plant and pathological sec tion would serve the two races, the wards would be housed in separate buildings and at a suitable distance from each other.

An attempt is being made by the path ologist in conjunction with the RSSAILA to form a blood bank in the town. This is a very urgent need now as the Euro pean population is approximately 300.

Recently a baby’s life was lost because there was no such unit from which to draw.

MR. GEOFF BLISS, manager New Guinea Estates, represented Mad ang at the recent Native Labour Conference in Moresby.

Mr. And Mrs. Hal Evans Had

their son christened in the Ameri can Lutheran Mission during the month. Godmother, Mrs. Colin Carpen ter, and godfather, ADO Allen Gow.

Miss Barbara Mclaughlin Of

the Women’s Section of the De partment of Education has been

in town for a fortnight. She has visited Sek Mission, various branches of the Lutheran Mission, the European School and the native school at Tusbab. Miss McLaughlin represented the Department at an educational conference in India last year. She was formerly lecturer in Method at the Teachers’ Training College in Sydney.

ON July 22 an enjoyable evening was spent at the Club conducted by the RSSAILA. A fancy dress party, it attracted a sizeable crowd. Prizes were won by Mr. K. Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. S.

Baker and Mrs. D. Rees.

MR. R. LIDDELL, of the local branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has returned to Austra lia.

THE new salary range was not received with very much enthusiasm by Madang Administration officials. In some cases the salaries will not cover even the necessities of life.

TWO mothers in the town are perform ing a worthwhile service in provid ing religious instruction for child ren.

On Thursdays, Mrs. Jack Sherry drives a small group of children to the Catho lic Mission at Alexishaven; while Mrs.

Hal Evans has a small group of Protes tant children at her home for scripture reading and hymns, on Saturday morn ings.

CONCERN was felt here for Mr. Les Ingles and Mr. Matt. Fawkner, when no news of them was heard for a few days. Later it was learned that their ship, MV Kulau, was held up in the Ramu River with engine trouble.

MRS. PITT has been having a busy time at the Guest House and has several times had to put up make shift beds for people who have omitted to book ahead.

Mr. David Bardwell, of NSW, has been appointed Methodist Mission engineer, at Salamo, Papua.