Moresby Says Goodbye

To Well-Known Residents Father McEncroe and Gough Family

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Oct. 7

MORESBY farewelled three of its most respected citizens when Father Mc- Encroe and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gough left for Australia on the Bulolo on September 26.

Father McEncroe had been here since 1924, and Mr. and Mrs. Gough since 1929.

In those days there were only 400 Euro peans in the town. Father McEncroe was Parish Priest for both Moresby and Bamarai until a few years before the war when he was able to confine himself to Moresby alone. He was an Army Chapalin here during the war. Hanuabada, Koki

nd Bomana Missions were established uring his term of service in Moresby.

He left the Territory for health reasons nd will go to another parish in Australia, ’ather Eather is Moresby’s Parish Priest tow.

Superintendent Tom Gough was the nly European police officer on active luty in Moresby from 1929 to 1942. From 942 until 1945 Moresby was under Army dministration; and of recent years there tave, of course, been many more than one luropean police officer in Moresby. But •uperintendent Gough has been (except uring the war years), in charge of the loresby police district from 1929 until he day of his recent departure. He came from Queensland where he served in he police force for seven years.

Superintendent Gough recalls that two atives were hanged in Papua during his pay here one for raping a 6-year-old propean girl and the other for killing the nief native warder at Badili Jail, and the [aider’s wife and child. Superintendent rough regards the latter case as the most emarkable he had ever handled.

The murderer was a native named Karo tio was a prisoner in Badili Jail at the

time of the crime. A friendly native warder let him out one night whereupon he enticed the chief warder and his wife and child to a spot where he could kill them without interference. The murder was part of a fantastic plot hatched by a native named Koaba, who was also in Badili Jail at the time. Koaba’s ultimate aim was the murder of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Hubert Murray. However, Koaba was not punished for his part in the killing of the warder and his family as native witnesses were too frightened to give evidence against him.

Superintendent and Mrs. Gough and Father McEncroe were guests of honour at a farewell party at the Catholic Pres bytery a few days before they left. One hundred and fifty residents attended to pay tribute to them. Cheques were pre sented to both parties. Among those present were the Administrator and Mrs.

Murray, Judge Gore and Bishop Sorin.

Local police later gave a farewell party for Mi*, and Mrs. Gough and presented them with engraved watches and a wallet of notes.

Mr. and Mrs. Gough hope to make their new home at Southport, Queensland.

Their daughter, Rita, accompanied them to Australia.

Mr. and Mrs. George (Shortt, of Nauru, were in Adelaide on leave in October. Mr.

Shortt is on the British Phosohate Com mission staff on the island. He says that, Nauru’s Administrator (Mr. R. s.

Richards) is doing “very well.” Mr.

Richard’s appointment by the Chifley Government caused some comment last year—he was an ex-Labour MP from South Australia and had had no tropical experience.

[?]uperintendent Gough with Mrs. Gough and Miss Rita Gough.