Some Old NG History Needing Attention

At Kokopo, in New Guinea, on the terrace overlooking the quiet sea, there still remains the flight of concrete steps which once led up from the waterside to the attractive bungalow, “Gunantambu”, of Mrs. Paul Kolbe —or “Queen Emma”, as she is so much better known.

Nothing now remains of “Gunantambu” except the rows of foundation stones, which give some idea of the dimensions of the once famous place. They show the location and lay-out of “Gunantambu”.

A couple of miles away, along the road to Rabaul, on a bluff overlooking Blanche Bay, is the small private cemetery (mat-mat ) which was established by Queen Emma in the years between 1885 and 1905; and, on the head-stones in this little cemetery, may be found some of the history of German New Guinea, before it was taken over by Australia.

Another couple of miles further along towards Rabaul is another little private cemetery—that established by Mrs. Phoebe Parkinson, who was “Queen Emma’s” sister, and who occupied the next planta tion. Tts head-stones also contain valuable historical records.

Both of these little cemeteries have been forgotten and lost to sight for at least 40 years, and are overgrown with Kunai grass and scrub. It is a pity that they cannot be cared for in some way. This job perhaps could be undertaken by that little group of enthusiasts, headed by Max Lees and S. S. Smith, who formed the New Britain Historical Society a couple of years ago.