NEW BRITAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 32, 24 September 1914, Page 6

NEW BRITAIN.

HERBERTSHOHE. r 11 •/* t- • . / Herbertshohe, the German oxheadquarters in the Bismarck Archipelago, is from all accounts a busy well-built town with a very large trade, but situated rather precariously in a region which is highly volcanic,. The approach to Blanche Bay, New Britain, on which Herbertshohe stands, is flanked by three lofty vol-

canoes, which are called the Mother

and Daughters, at present quiescent • but not so long ago exceedingly active, says a. Press special writer. Mr Staniforth Smith, Administrator of British Papua, writing a few years

ago, described these volcanic cones as “looking like sentinels or a modern Cerberus, watching over the des-

tinies of Germania in the South Seas.”

From a sulphur cone near by smoke is constantly issuing. Hot sulphur springs and streams are plentiful, and the spot where they reach the sea is often indicated by,a column of steam. “There is a huge rock in Blanche Bay, some four hundred feet in height,” says Mr Smith, “which old residents state rose out of the waters of the bay in a single night. Everywhere are indications of latent subterranean forces, which it is hoped will not again break into activity with the,, resultant devastation.” These .ominous mountains, and the fact that two or three earthquake shocks are frequently experienced in the course of a week, do not dispirit the energetic German traders to any extent

The mainstay of Herbertshohe was

the great trade in copra, derived from . plantations covering six or seven thousand acres. There are fine warehouses, large .wharves and excellent roads. From Herbertshohe the traveller can drive all day throe he various plantations, and these good thoroughfares are of great advantage in the economical working of tlm tations. Another indication of civilisation in this wild country, where cannibal natives'haunt the mountains, is a telephone line running from the Gorman naval harbor of Simpson’s

Haven to Herbertshohe and through

the plantations,', and there are also tramlines run by the New Guinea Company,, a big German corporation which is strongly backed by the Government, i

A remarkable business woman of New zßritain is described by Mr Staniforth Smith. “The town of Herbertshohe,” ho writes, “is divided into two parts; the right-hand portion practically belongs to Mrs Kolbo and consists of fine warehouses, an extension wharf, stores, hotel and private dwelling houses. Mrs Kolbe lias a thousand, employees, a huge plantation of three thousand acres, a number of trading and, recruiting vessels and wholesale and retail stores. She arrives at the office early in a rickshaw, drawn by two natives, and, surrounded by her clerks, directs the whole ramifications of this vast business with the most consummate skill, as the magnificent success of her business amply proves. Mr Kolbe, her husband, is an officer of the German army, and interests himself chiefly in the plantations. Since Mr Smith wrote this Mrs Kolbe has disposed of her plantation to a German syndicate. The island of Neu Britain which gives scope to such great business enterprises is no mere map-dot, for it is from 350 to 400 miles in length. But its climate is described as poisonous; no one escapes fever. •