News Notes from the Goldfields

Prom Our Own Correspondent WAU. May 30.

MR. TURNER, the new general manager of Qantas Empire Airways, visited Wau on a tour of inspection re cently. He was accompanied by old Terri torian, Orme Denny and Mr. Shannon, the Area Manager at Lae.

Wau experienced a very dry month dur ing April. Many of the large vegetable gardens established here were feeling the lack of rain.

An extra three holes at the Wau Golf Club are now well under way. and it is hoped that the New Guinea Open Championship will be played at Wau in November. The Golf Club also plans to hold a Golf gala on New Year’s week end, 1952, when all Papua and NG Clubs will be invited to participate in open events.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs.

J. Sherlock of Pine Tops, Bulolo, at Wau Hospital on May 1.

The Chief Judge of P-NG, Mr. Justice Phillips, visited Wau in May. Two natives were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for serious offences.

Mr. Harry Wormald, a local electrician, has completed a major power line exten sion from the Wau township to the Lu theran Mission School on Koronga Hill, and the whole Mission is now connected to the electricity supply. It is anticipated that, on Mr. Wormald’s return from South, he will commence installation on the Wau Town Street Lighting Scheme.

Mr. J. B. McAdam visited Wau during the month on matters affecting his Forestry Department.

Colonel Maddern, CO of the PNGVR, paid his first visit to Wau, and was shown over the area. He will shortly return to commence recruiting for the unit.

An X-Ray plant has now been installed at the Wau Native Hospital by Technician Lannoy. It fills a much-needed want.

Mr. J. Hohnen, and Mr. W. R. Mc- Connon, managers of New Guinea Gold fields Ltd., and Koranga Gold Sluicing Ltd., respectively, are both attending a Mining Conference in Adelaide.

The Wau Kindergarten is now almost completed and as the committee had some £230 at their disposal, an adequate stock of furniture for our pre-school children is now assured.

During May, Wau has lost its very popular school teacher, Miss Jo Keating, who has departed for Perth where she in tends to spend her leave. Miss Keating, prior to her departure, was given a series of farewells by her many friends. Mrs. B.

Corlass, wife of the local Native Labour Inspector, will replace Miss Keating.

THE BGD Company closed down its No. 3 and No. 6 dredges recently.

This has necessitated the retrench ment of a number of employees. The company chartered a DC3 on May 28, to take 21 of these people direct from Wau to Sydney.

St. Augustine’s Church, Wau, held a unique Mother’s Day service this year.

Children of the Sunday School were re sponsible for conducting almost the whole of the service under the tutelage of the Rev. and Mrs. John Given, who were warmly congratulated by the parents who attended.

A son was born at Wau on May 28 to Mr. and Mrs. Alan Watts.

Captain Brett Hilder held a successful exhibition of watercolours in Melbourne in early June.