News From The Ng

Highlands

By Daika

August 17. 1950.

Misfortune was the lot of pilot Pat Tainton, of the Gibbs Sepik Air ways Auster which has been stationed at Goroka, when he was caught by a downdraft while flying over rough country between there and Chimbu. The plane crashed into the side of a moun tain, was severely damaged and is thought to be a complete loss. The pilot suffered shock and abrasions and a passenger, Dr.

D. Jamieson, of the Anti-TB unit now operating in the Highlands, received a fractured ankle. Both were admitted to the Lae hospital, but were allowed to re turn after treatment.

Mr. Bob Gibbs, owner of the aircraft, can always be reckoned on to do the un usual. He was landed at Chimbu, with Mr. Bill Cavanaugh, an engineer, and two motor cycles on which they were able to travel to within an hour’s walk of the scene of the crash. As the cycles were only of the two-stroke type it was a revelation to the sceptics who claimed that the trip over such rugged country was impossible on motor-bikes.

There was another accident at Wabag (west of Mt. Hagen) when Pilot Ross Christenson, of Qantas Empire Airways, was caught by a gust of wind just as he landed his DHB4. The pilot was un injured, and damage to the plane was slight. Engineers from Qantas are at present working on the plane which should be flown back to Lae in the near future.

ANEW arrival in the Central High lands is Dr. R. Wilson, ex-British Army, who has taken up the position cf District Medical Officer at Goroka. Dr.

Wilson has seen service in Borneo and India and will be a real asset to the District.

THE movement of labour recruits from the Highlands has recommenced after a short hold-up when no orders were forthcoming. During the past month, however, 200 recruits were flown from Kerowagi to Goroka by GSA who operated Norsemans for this Operation Coon.

AUSTRALIAN Federal Members of Parliament representing both sides of the House have visited the High lands during this month. Both parties had a hurried trip to all airports west of Goroka, but it is hard to imagine the value of such visits when the persons concerned spend such a short time at each airstrip. The debate in the House of Rep resentatives should be worth listening to when these roaming parliamentarians start telling each other of the things they have learned up here.

THE task of painting the Bulolo type houses which were erected through out the Highlands some months ago is well in hand, and is being carried out by Mr. Clarrie Locke of the Department of Works and Housing. So far, eight houses have been completed at Goroka, one at Kainantu. two at Hagen and one at Kerowagi. This leaves only the two at Chimbu to be painted and all the ori ginal houses will be completed with the exception of the interiors, which will be done at a later date.

Mr. Paul Burns, who at one time was Town and Sewerage Engineer in Suva, Fiji, and has also spent some time in Papua, was recently appointed Illabo Shire Engineer (Junee) N.S.W.