Timber

Large NG Stand Open For Lease

rNDERS are being called by the Denartment of External Territories, Canberra, for permits for exc l usive ;imber cutting risrhts in a 21.000-acre irea just east of Lae, New Guinea.

This is the biggest news New Guinea imber men have had since the war and )erhaps is an indication that the P-NG forestry Department is at last loosening ip the tight hold it has had on all frinber lifting matters since the end of the war.

Tenders close on July 6, and the uccpscful fpndprpr will have the rieht o remove 70,000,000 super feet of timber ver the next 10 years.

The area, which lies between the Busa ,nd Bunga Rivers is, as timber country pes, comparatively accessible. Part of t has a sea frontage but that part of he coast is exposed and rough seas are o common that it is unlikely that that lethod of getting the timber out will be mnloyed.

The Bupu River, which crosses the rea, has a shingly bed which was used s a road by Army vehicles during the rar. Roads lead out of Lae across the lutibum River in the direction of the Jase area and it is believed that it will ot be too much of an undertaking to onstruct extensions using the shingle rcm the Bupu.

The Forestry Department says that as fell as suitable house-building timber here is Beach Kalofilum, New Guinea r alnut, rosewood and red cedar in the rea.

What New Guinea timbermen think of ; 15 n °t likely to be known until tenders lose in July.

There are, of course, numerous provisos hich the successful tenderer must ad ere to. He must not cut more than ,000,000 super feet of timber in any one ear; within 12 months he must erect a awmill capable of cutting 1,000,000 super Jet per annum; a Forestry officer may irect the order in which certain sections re to be worked; and each section must e worked out completely, in turn.

There are also various deposits and ureties to be put up.

At a public ceremony in Noumea, New aledonian wives and mothers of members I the services who died for France are 5 receive a special medal struck in their onour.