Madang Newsletter

From Our Own Correspondent

Madang. Jan. 29

MADANG people were recently given an opportunity of seeing what native boys could do, when given training in Art, by the New Guinea Art Specialist, Mr. J. K. Little.

The paintings showed Territorial characteristics. Prom the Eastern Division, the work displayed dash and brilliance but lacked originality in choice of subject.

Boys from New Guinea displayed a careful attention to detail in everyday life although the colouring was dead.

Some good efforts were noted from the Central Division but the finest efforts — displaying the phantasy of native life— came from Western Papua. Here the pattern legend was depicted with fine perspective and flow of colour. Your correspondent’s selection was paintings from this section. They were “Saidor, Hugu and Kibili,”—figures dancing in illustration of a story where Saidor, the wife flees from husband and father to become a mermaid. The other. “Aida,” a dance-doll, was brilliant with colour and movement.

I understand that it is the intention of the Director of Education, Mr. W. Groves, to forward the Exhibition to Australia for the Jubilee Celebrations.

All the paintings were chosen from the work done by 20 boys at school at Sogeri, Papua.

THE electricity blackouts of two hours every night have called forth numerous groans. However, few townsfolk realise the grand job the elec tricians are carrying out under extremely difficult conditions and with very little co operation from consumers. rHE delegate for the Expro-board from Rabaul, Mr. Hugh Lyons, has been in Madang in consultation with Vladang’s inspector, Mr. Jock Esson.

The Jubilee Oelebrations—a sporting veek-end for Wau and Madang athletes —were cancelled because of the Mount l.amington tragedy.

Mr. Jim Bourke, popular Treasury iccountant, was in Madang for two days luring January on an official visit. He vas the guest of Mr. C. D. Bates.

Although the wharf area looks chaotic, food progress on the small ships’ wharf s being made by the Huxley team. A lumber of steel piles have already been Iriven.

A presentation of the story of The CTL Sleeping Beauty was performed during the month against a back :round of recordings of “The Sleeping ’rincess,” by a group of Madang children.

The children’s costumes were made by heir mothers while Mrs. R. Johnston, Jrs. J. Sherry and Mrs. Hal Evans taught hem their lines ready for the co-ordina ion of words, songs, poems, dances and ecords by the general producer, Mrs. R.

Veidenhofer.

Mrs. Jack Morgan and Mr. Jack Pont ag were responsible for the dancing and ecord production while Mr. R. Weiden lofer took charge of lighting effects, lesdames Nolan and Boehm made the iosies while Mesdames Shields, Banks and irown decorated the stage. Wardrobe distress was Mrs. Jock Esson and Mr.

Jrown did the transporting of heavy tage gear.

Many requests were made to have the how put on in public, but the producer

felt it was preferable to prepare another longer phantasy before presenting the children before a larger audience.

The pantomine was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Weidenhofer with an audience of between 50 and 60 children and adults and pronounced a huge success Among the audience were the. District Commissioner, Mr. C. D. Bates and the Assistant District Commissioner, Mr. A.

Gow.

AT a quiet ceremony, conducted by Pastor Boehm at the S.D.A. Mission, Madang, Miss Edrina Brimson became Mrs. Ken Brodie, on January 23. Mr.

Brodie is well known in the Territory and, prewar, lived with his mother in Rabual. His bride is the sister of Mrs.

Archie Shields of Madang.

Sandy Creek Gold Sluicing, Ltd.

ADVICE has been received that during the month of January, 1951, approxi mately 122 oz, of gold were recovered from 6,895 cubic yards of material treated at the company’s leases in Morobe, New Guinea.

Although freak pineapples are fairly fre quent, one which grew on the property of Fix Plantations, Ltd., Deuba, Fiji, recently was decidedly uncommon. Instead of one head, there are seven in a fan-like for mation. From the bottom stem, usually bare, were 10 suckers. The specimen was handed to the Agricultural Department for experimental purposes.