Madang Newsletter

From Our Own Correspondent

Madang. Oct. 1.

MANY Madang people feel that Port Moresby residents are ruining the Territory by applying rules suitable to the capital but not to the whole Ter ritory. It is a case of a little knowledge is worse than none at all. An instance was shown when they applied to have building blocks halved. Most people on outstations like to have fowl-runs, but by the time they put fowl pens, outhouses and boys’ quarters on the block suggested by Moresby people, the fowls would be clucking just outside the window and the natives, when sucking their teeth, would be heard in the dining room. Mighty in convenient for the natives.

DISTRICT Commissioner Charles Bates looked pleased with life on Septem ber 9 when his first son was bom.

The babe was christened by the Rt. Rev.

David Hand of New Guinea. Mr. Jock Esson and Mr. Gordon Clarke are joint godfathers while the baby’s elder sister, Pat, will be godmother.

THE Rev. A. Walke has taken over the work of the Rev. A. A. Maahs (now on leave), in supervising the Ameri can Lutheran Mission in Madang. The Sunday School inaugurated by him for Chinese and European children opened on October 2.

Disappointment was felt in Madang over the first R type house for Ad ministration people, as it defeats the purpose of the plan in not being built on high foundations. We had been led to believe that the original plan was in tended to have sufficient space under the house for garage space, laundry, etc. The facts that the bathroom can be reached only by a trip across the front verandah, and that water for showers will have to be carried across the lounge room and front verandah does not find favour either.

MUCH interest was taken in the ten nis tournaments over the Commem oration Day weekend. Mr. Les Bland and Mrs. G. Kennedy were the win ners; Mr. Reg. Johnstone and Mrs. O.

Banks runners-up.

The Rt. Rev. David Hand, Assistant- Bishop of New Guinea, visited Madang and Wewak about the middle of Septem ber. He surveyed the area in order to decide whether an Anglican Church for Europeans was warranted in Madang.

If the decision is for a church he will go to Australia to raise funds for it.

AFTER being on a sandbank in the vicinity of Bogia, the MV Marova was successfully refloated with the assistance of a Navy tug. The vessel will have to be slipped to ascertain what damage has been done, if any.

TWO new teachers have been appointed in the district to conduct a girls’ school at Tusbab. Miss June Linden has already arrived. Miss Dawn Parsloe is in the district discussing the Course of Instruction and curriculum for the Education Department with local officers.

SEVERAL houses, built by private firms, are being erected on Kalibobo.

Vacuum Oil and Qantas expect to move staff into their houses shortly. Mr. and Mrs. Roy MacGregor will shortly move into a small house they have erected on Marine Hill near the site of the pre war hotel.

THE move to increase the working hours of Administration officials will affect only a few as many members already work longer than 36 hours and, in some cases, without overtime pay. These men will probably be glad to see the 3.30sharpers brought into line.

T J rpHE Lutheran Mission has completed JL the road from Madang to Amele.

The road, although still requiring much to be done to it is used bv the mission to reach their new hospital at Amele. The main obstacle now is the

Gum River which has to be forded until such time as the Administration provides the bridge that has been promised, :: :: rpHE Port Moresby newspaper, South JL Pacific Post, was received in Madang with interest. It is hoped that the Paper will not develop into an echo for Canberra and the Administration. It will be interesting to see if the promised free dom of the Press can flourish without offending Administration officials, whose complex about criticism by the Press is well known.