Lae’S New Industry

Timber From Over the Busu

[THE construction of the new L bridge across the Busu River, some 10 miles east of Lae, has iproved the prospects of develop ent in that part of New Guinea.

There are considerable and valu ile stands of timber in the area tween Lae and Finschhafen; but, len the Administration invited nders for the timber, most people

e scared off by the problem of issibility—it seemed that the i feasible way of getting the aer out was to build a strong ge across the turbulent Busu ?r, which is subject to frequent, rs floods. owever, a tender finally was let Vlessrs. Murdoch & Murphy, a -known Victorian timber firm; a team of seasoned and prac men, sent from Victoria, led the heavy job of building bridge. They had some luck, in they bulldozed an approach, found on the edge of the im a very large boulder, so :ioned that it served to firmly lor the western end of the ?e. The team, under the leader of Mr. Murphy, built a single l bridge of huge logs in six :s. though hampered by phenomen heavy rain, the Murdoch and phy team, since July, have been ng out a lot of good timber h is brought by jinker to Voco t (in Lae) and kept there i it can be sorted up for mill

ing or for regular shipment, as quality and demand require. _lnspection, since the construction of the bridge, shows that the stands of timber are extraordinarily thick and easy to work. Much the larger part is a soft wood Anasoptera, described as a kind of ash, useful for some things, but very hard on the saws because it contains a good deal of silica. There is some cedar, and taun. Generally the Victorians are happy with what they have found.

The construction of roads and bridges, through this timber country will open up the coastal strip to agriculture and give it a connection with Lae. At present, there are only

one nr „ ? oc °? ut plantations along the whole Huon Coast he tween La « and Finschhaven The New Guinea Ex-Servicemen’s Club of Sydney will hold its amSra! ball at the Coronet Ball Room George Street, on November 12 ’

Hibisc us, a new film on Fiii will be made for Tasman Empire SteSe s "of Slanri b A Mr - Robert made for thi. \ pr ?y ious film fSian HoUdav “hSf £ Mr Steele ’

TEAT screened

Red mbisclfivenZore trtdeiy

[?] e new bridge over the Busu River, [?] of Lae. The lower picture shows [?] great span of logs and, on the western [?] the very large boulder to which the cin cture is anchored.