The Goldfields

News Notes From

From Our Own Correspondent

A Wau, Ng, July 21.

PATROL to Lake Triste, two days’ walk away from Wau, was recently undertaken by Cadet Patrol-Officer Gordon Smith, who brought back an interesting account of the region plus some

good photographs.

The lake, which is about three miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide, is 7,000 feet above sea level which brings it into the region of the moss forests.

The margin of the lake is lined with reeds, and back from it is a swamp full of decaying timber and trees covered with ropes of hang ing moss.

The whole area is dank and humid.

There is an island an acre in ex tent at the eastern side of the which is said to be the home oi thousands of snakes. Ducks live m or near the lake and. .-judging by the rings on the water, there are plenty of fish. .The lake and adjacent country is the traditional hunting and fishing ground of the Biangai Village people but no one actually lives in the lake area. , ,5 rst ann ual Catholic Ball was held at Wau on July 14. Visi tors from Lae, Mumeng and Bulolo and proceeds, amounting oL went to the newly-opened Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

The late Rev. Father William Bachus, parish priest of Morobe, who lost his life in the crash of the ill-fated Drover on July 16, officially opened the ball.

The district was plunged into gloom when news of the accident reached Wau, and it was learned that Bishop Stephen Appelhans, Fr.

Bachus, Pilot Johnny Spiers and four others had perished.

The Bishop and Father Bachus had been in Wau to consecrate the new church.

The church had been dedicated to the late Father John Glover who was parish priest at Wau before the war and who, during the evacuation of the mainland in 1942, performed miracles in an old plane which he more or less held together with

Faith.

Father Glover was himself killed in an air crash about two years ago.

A games night held in July re sulted in £6O being raised. The money will be used for the paint ing of the War Memorial Hall.

At present visiting Wau is Dr.

W. E. Giblin, affectionately known to goldfields residents as Gibby. He was medical officer here before the war and again for a period shortly after it. More recently he has been at Nondugl.

It is said that he will soon retire and come to live permanently amonast us.

Work on the local golf course is progressing and nine holes will be playable by early September.