NEW GUINEA.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1918, Page 3

NEW GUINEA.

steady progress REPORTED. SYDNEY January 18. Evidence of the steady progress being made by British New Guinea (Papua) under Australian control is afforded in the annual report of Judge Murray, the Lieutenant-Governor. For instance, the territorial revenue is

now over £60,000; ten years ago, when Australia t-ook control it was £IO,OOO. Then the European population was 600 now it is 1036, Ten years ago the area under cultivation was 14 1 6 acres; to-day it is 47,500 acr.es. The' result of this cul tivation is beginning to he seen in the increased productiveness, and a great commercial future seems Assured for these islands. Great areas in new plantations mostly eocoanuts and rubber are coming rapidly into usefulness and returning some of the very large amount of capital invested thore. Only the. coastal sections of Papua are known, and safe, for white men; the interior with its mountains and great rivers, its impenetrable jungles

and its ruthless tropical diseases, is . still the old dangerous New Guinea. Peaceful penetration goes o n steadily of course. Valievs that a decade ago would have been a death-trap are to-day freely - entered by whites; tribes that would have unhesitatingly eaten a Euten Tears ago are to-day harmless. But right, on the fringe of civilisation there are treacherous cannibal tribes, who are a source of constant anxiety to the administration.

During the year two explorations were made. on 6 expedition went, up the Stickland River, a tributary of the great Fly River. The Gogodnra tribe, a peaceful industrious people, was visit ed. Another expedition went up into the Kukukuku country,, almost due north of Port Moresby, and struck into the hitherto unknown country to the north of Mount Yule. Much of the country hereabouts was uriin'habited. The explorers kepi a look-out for cannibals, but. none were encountered. They were satisfied, however, that the Kulculaiku people were cannibals not long ago.

The Adrtiiuistratoi* says that the Government have shown great progress. The resident magistrate of the Gulf division estimated that in his territory here were from 12,000 to 10,000 acres of coconnuts alone, carrying 1.b00.000 palms. He expressed the opinion that a properly organised trading company oil the I lines of trading on the west coast of ■ Africa, instead of the present lack of method, could export copra annually to the value of £30,000 or £40,000.