Mr. W. Cunningham Bruce

Pioneers of Papua

By J. Nixonwestwood

Mr. W. C. BRUCE had charge of the Police in the “occupation days”; and he had a most dif ficult task, not only in training the natives, but also in attempting to keep order generally, which in those days was no easy job.

He was a huge, genial man, very gruff, but exceedingly kind-hearted.

He was also very forthright and would not stand any nonsense from anyone, be they in the Service or just plain civilians, such as some of the BP managers.

He also had charge of the Armed Constabulary. He made his first visit to the Territory when Sir William MacGregor was about to retire. His name is not mentioned in any report prior to 1898, but he was a personal friend of Captain Barton and Sir George Le Hunte.

He took up his onerous duties in the early 1900’s.

Bruce found his job a difficult one, because he had to contend with some very cheese-paring authorities in Brisbane. Any innovation sug gested to help him in his work was more often frowned on than agreed to.

DURING Bruce’s term of office he was called upon to hang one of the men who were responsible for the death of a European who had been murdered in the hills be hind Port Moresby. It was a particularly ghastly crime and was committed in a spirit of real bravado.

In the village (near to Sogeri), the visits of the Patrol Officer had been much reduced, and the natives thought the “gubment” had quit, so they started to rob gardens and villages of whatever they could lay their hands on. Becoming bolder.

they looted European bungalows, ; finally got so cheeky that they attacked 'and killed one of the Europeans.

There were several culprits, but o hv one was condemned to death, ' 4 it fell, to Bruce to have to do hangman’s job. The gallows ere erected by John MacDonald, vho was the jailer at that time, end the place was at the beginning of Elakona, just at the bottom of he hill to the left. It was well screened from the public; but even with all these precautions, poor gruce, big as he was, was trembling like an aspen leaf.

The native Sergeant who helped Bruce was a Kiwai whose name was Kesavi; and he, like Bruce, did not relish the job—Kesavi more so, be cause the news would travel to the killer’s village, and something might happen to him if he had to go on a patrol to the district again.

After all the arrangements were complete, Bruce asked the boy if he had anything to say before he was launched into eternity. The answer was: “What for you mace me plenty other fellah man he help killem taukurrakurra.”

With that, Bruce turned his head and told Kesavi to pull the lever, and said most fervently, “and may God have mercy on your soul.”

Soon after that “job,” Bruce re signed the Service; because, although a big and gruff man, he was very tender-hearted, and not cut out for that kind of work. As the head of the Constabulary, he was excellent, and it was due to him that, when the new Administration took over, they had a very well-trained Armed Constabulary which could be relied on to take care of any emergency, and do their job without too much European supervision.

BRUCE then commenced business as a clearing contractor and manager of estates, from the plant ing to the bearing stage. He also contracted to get timber for firms and individuals; and in this con nection he helped George Francis Whybrow, and later Arthur Jewell, to get timber for the sawmill which had been erected at Manu Manu.

On the plantation side, he em ployed Harry Gofton, as manager of the Lolorua Estate, and Mrs.

Gofton (now Mrs. Flo Stewart), accompanied Harry to the kabun and they took care of the Estate until about the beginning of World War I.

Mr. and Mrs. Gofton, who under stood natives, seemed to be able to control the New Guinea workers with success, and they were com plimented by Bruce and other Euro peans on the way they managed the Estate. Arthur Jewell finally took the place over, and he, with his wife, appeared to be able to keep up the good work which Bruce, through Harry, had accomplished.

Bruce ended his adventurous life as a prosaic planter.