Pearling Expedition

Tragic End to P-NG Pearling Expedition

DISASTER struck the Torres Strait pearling expedition to Papua-New Guinea waters when the originator of the enterprise and owner of the two ships engaged, Mr. John Nolan, died suddenly on April 23 after a seizure while diving near Samarai, Papua.

Nolan owned a fleet of Torres Strait pearling luggers and during the off season organised an expedition to Papuan and New Guinea waters with two of them, the Crystal Star and Lochiel.

The two ships arrived in Port Moresby at the end of March. There were 10 Europeans and one Torres islander man ning them, and it was hoped to recruit additional native labour locally. Nolan’s intention was to survey potential MOP and trochus beds along the coasts of Papua and New Guinea.

News of Nolan’s death did not reach Sydney for a week. An urgent appeal was then made to the Probate Court to have an administrator of the estate appointed.

Nolan, it was said, had left no cash assets and unless the crew of his pearling ships were paid they would walk off and the luggers would be looted and sunk. The assets of the Torres Strait Pearling Com pany, of which Nolan was sole owner, were said to be worth £45,000.

The business was later transferred to the Equity Court where the Chief Judge appointed Mr. A. E. Campbell, an officer of the court, as receiver and manager of the estate.

Two applications for the appointment of a receiver had been presented to the court. One was on behalf of Dorothy Joan Hawkins, who said that she had been living with Nolan as his wife for the last five years. Nolan, she said had told her he had made a will appointing her executrix and main beneficiary but the will could not be found.

The other application was on behalf of Mrs. Peggy Nolan, who had obtained a decree nisi from Nolan last year. The decree had not been made absolute.