News Notes From The Goldfields

From Our Own Correspondent

WAU, NG, November 30.

A FETE and exhibition held at Bulolo on October 21 to raise funds for the Hobby Centre and Sunday School in that District, made £392. The exhibition hall was extremely good and the judges, Mesdames R. Franklin, A. Bowring (both of Edie Creek) and J. Given of Wau, had a difficult job in making awards.

ON October 29, the bachelors of Wau entertained the residents of Wau and surrounding districts at their Annual Ball. The night began with savouries and cocktails at 7 p.m. and con tinued until breakfast at 6 a.m. the fol lowing morning. The band played, favours were distributed and decorations, which had been brought from South, were greatly admired. This first post-war Bachelors’ Ball outshone anything we have previously seen in this district.

A LARGE patrol left Slate Creek on October 30, for Menyama, 10 days’ walk aw r ay. Assistant District Officer Lloyd Hurrel is in charge of the party consisting of 14 Native Policeboys and 100 carriers—Cadet Patrol Officer Keenan is accompanying Mr. Hurrel. The party intends to establish a post at Menyama, in the centre of Kukukuku country. There was a post there before the war.

This was the patrol that Assistant Dis trict Officer Doug. Parrish was to under take but owing to an accident he had to withdraw.

MRS. PRICE of Port Moresby Girl Guide Headquarters and Miss M.

Jackson of Brisbane Girl Guide Headquarters visited Wau, November 1-3, to ascertain whether a Girl Guide Move ment would be possible in the Wau- Bulolo districts. They decided that there were insufficient girls of Girl Guide age here and therefore Brownie packs will be formed.

Anglican Coadjutor Bishop, the Rt. Rev.

G. D. Hand, visited Wau on November 5-6, his first visit since he was consecrated earlier this year. He also visited Bulolo and Lae.

New guinea goldfields, ltd., at Wau, are now supplying pre-cut houses to Port Moresby at the rate of 20 per month—in addition to 50,000 super feet of timber per month to the Department of Works and Housing. Lae.

This company’s saw-mill cut a total of 225,293 super feet of timber in October; 117 tons of timber were freighted to Lae by road, in return for 115 tons of inward freight.

THE New Guinea Citizens’ Association (Wau Branch), held its Annual Show on Sunday, November 12. The exhibits were of good standard although there were not as many as last year. Mrs.

R. Franklin of Edie Creek won the cup for the aggregate score of points; and Mr.

Norman White, of Wau won the cup for most points scored for vegetables ex hibited.

THE citrus orchards in the Bulolo Valley are proving a great success but to keep the trees healthy they are sprayed monthly.

Mr. Austin Ireland’s 600 citrus trees show great promise; 100 mandarin trees are in full bloom and the lemon and grape-fruit are just beginning to flower.

The orange trees are bearing. Mr. Ire land hopes that next year he will be marketing his fruit in the district. The

trees were 3i years old when planted and have now been in for 21 years.

Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., have also planted a small orchard of citrus trees which arrived on the last Mangola. They are expected to be bearing in 1952. There are 125 oranges, 50 mandarins and 25

grapefruit.

SEVERAL small shops have opened at Wau recently and are proving a great boon to the residents. The new picture theatre was officially opened by the Assistant District Officer, Mr. H. P.

Seale, in October.

The new District Office is being speedily

erected by the local contractor, Mr. L.

Young, and appears to be an impressive establishment.

SUPREME Court sittings were held at Wau this month when Chief Judge F. B. Phillips visited here for a week.

The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. O’Driscoll, ac companied him and on the 21st they left for Lae to hold sittings there.

ON November 18 Ivor Novello’s Three- Act Play, “Full House,” was put on at the War Memorial Hall by the Wau Dramatic Society. The producer, Mrs. I. Connell, was congratulated on the fine performance. Worthy of special mention were Mrs. Kath Owers and Miss Jo Keating who played their large parts exceedingly well.

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THE Naughty Nineties Buffet held here at Wau Club on November 25 was a huge success and proceeds (£200) went to St. Augustine’s Church, Wau.

Mr. Len Young, local contractor and builder, has been given a contract to build the Mining Warden’s Office which will adjoin the new District Office. Work is expected to commence at an early date.

On November 27, two babies were born at the Wau Hospital—a daughter (Ann) to Mr. and Mrs. A. Stevens of Wau; and

a son (Peter Allen) to Mr. and Mrs. W.

C. Peters of Golden Ridges, Wau.

Visiting Wau at present in connection with New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., are Messrs. A. J. Cotter, E. D. Cameron and J. H. Kitto. They are members of the well-known Sydney firm of Priestly & Morris, Public Accountants.

Mr. E. J. Wauchope of Hansa Bay, near Madang, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney recently. He does not intend to return permanently to New Guinea.