Years Old
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
H. R. Wahlen Is Now 81
“T SAW Heinrich Rudolph Wahlen, X formerly of German New Guinea, in Hamburg recently,” said Mr. George Baker, in an in terview in Sydney.
“Wahlen is now 81 years old— but he still takes the liveliest in terest in world affairs—and especi ally in conditions in N. Guinea.
“I think Wahlen was one of the unluckiest of men. He went out from Germany to New Guinea over 50 years ago for the Hernsheim firm and, after his job there was finished, he set up for himself as a planter in the North-West Islands, and had extraordinary suc cess. Eventually he merged his in terests with those of the New Guinea Company and the Forsaythes and, when he retired in 1914, he was worth about £250,000. He landed in Germany on the very day that World War I broke out— and in an hour was penniless.”
Mr. Baker said that Mr. Wahlen’s means now are very limited. He is still interested in the Waria Syndicate, which has made a claim for compensation in respect of a large area of gold-bearing country in the Morobe section of New Guinea; and, from time to time, he has acquired funds with which
to keep that claim alive. (The claim was dismissed last year by an Australian adjudicator).
Mr. Wahlen served with the Germans in World War II and probably was the oldest man in that Army.
He filled an important post in Paris during the German occupation.
If The Governor of Fiji and Lady Garvey made a tour of the Cakau drove Province, Vanua Levu, in March, visiting estates, schools and Missions. The tour was made by air from Nausori, Viti Levu, and partly by the Government launch Viti 11 on the Vanua Levu coast.