Madang Newsletter
pp. 37-38 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
( Madang, Dec. 29.
CHRISTMAS week in Madang proved J a bright affair with plenty of enter tainment offering and a community spirit prevailing.
On December 23, the Social Club had a Christmas Ball with the usual trappings and merriment of the festive season.
Attractive decorations added to the gaiety for the large crowd that attended To entertain the 100-odd children in the district, a party was arranged at the Social Club on December 22. Mrs R.
Chugg acted as hostess while Mr. Allan Clarke was organiser. After afternoon tea, provided by the ladies, Father Christ mas arrived. Each child was presented with a huge stocking and other presents.
About 200 adults were present to see the children.
The Asiatic School, under Mrs. Radke’s skilled guidance presented a religious play; at the European School, plays were performed, prizes presented and a special picture programme shown. For parents and helpers, the Kindergarten children gave an Observation Hour with the key note “The Spirit of Christmas.” The Lutheran Mission produced a fine open air pageant at Baitabag on the night of December 21; and at Tusbab, the Native Education Department Centre, the natives enjoyed a break-up and prize giving day.
DECEMBER was an unlucky month for the inspector of the Ex-Pro. Board, Mr. Jock Esson. In the open sea, off Finschhafen, his ship, the Mangana, was adrift for over 24 hours due to engine trouble. Planes were sent out and later two boats from Lae and Finschhafen went to his aid. After being towed to Fins chaffen and repaired, Mangana set out °n a second December trip, was blown off its course in rough seas between Wewak and Madang. For over 24 hours, the boat was missing and planes again were sent out to search. But the men aboard arrived back in Madang in time to see their sons receive their presents from Santa at the Club party on the 22nd.
IN accordance with traditional custom, \*hen announcing betrothal, twb , well-known Chinese families of Madang sent cakes to their friends on Christmas Eve. The engaged couple, Miss Margaret Wong and Mr. Louis Chegg, will marry some time in June.
SIR ANGUS GILLAN, of the British Council, was in Madang, accom panied by Mr. Charles Julius, of the Education Department, during the month. A lecture on the nature of the British Council had to be abandoned due to delay in arrival of Sir Angus through bad weather.
MISS ELOISE MILLAR has left Baita bag to teach at the Lutheran Mission School at Wau. With her will go the children of missionaries in the District. Miss Joyce Wedd was trans ferred from the European School to Rabaul. Mrs. Parle will take her place.
Mr. Alec Ashton, manager of the Com monwealth Bank is on leave. He is missed not only in the Bank but in com munal entertainment and organisation in which he was so active.
MOSQUITOES have been on the war path. Many people consider the area is so bad now that Govern ment officials and private employees of firms should be supplied with special labour or an allowance to cope with the malaria precautions needed in Madang.
M R \i A ? K panting, of r.t.c., leaves Madang for Queensland late in January One of the most retiring people m the township he, none-the-less has been responsible for many kind deeds and voluntary assistance in sunnlv mg music and mechanical aid in com munity efforts since he arrived in Madang, late in 1946.
WITH the arrival of the contracting team to carry out the wharf con struction, the waterfront begins to look like a camp No signs of any actual work have yet been noticed but rumour
has it that the small ships wharf is to be built first.
MOTOR CYCLING has become a favourite means of transport around Madang and quite a number of machines can be heard roaring along the roads, while the modern sedan cars are no longer a novelty. Pehaps Madang is passing out of the jeep era with the New Year.
NEWLY arrived families to take up residence in Madang include Mr and Mrs. T. E. Huxley and family;’
Mrs. McGilvery (wife of Madang’s Directorate of Shipping manager) and family; Mr. Max Denehey and his wife, returned to Madang from leave; Mr. and Mrs. Robertson and young child of Burns Philp; and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cook from Samarai for the R.T.C.
Sir Henry Scott and Dr. C. J. Austin returned to Suva from New Zealand in December where they attended a meeting of the Lepers’ Trust Board at Christ church. At the meeting Dr. Austin showed films of the Fiji Leprosy Hospital, Makogai, and described the work being done there with the new drug.