HIDDEN REGIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1922, Page 5

HIDDEN REGIONS.

UNEXPLORED NEW GUINEA. A PROPOSED EXPEDITION. By Telegraph.—Press Assd.—Copyright. London, July 5. Mr. N. V. L. McNeill, of Melbourne, will direct the British Pacific science expedition, .which proposes to penetrate unexplored regions in New Guinea towards the end of the year. Mr. McNeill states they will travel right across the island, from north to i south, landing on the north coast in ' longitude 142 east, thence across the I Victor Emmanuel mountains and Mount 1 Blucher, where a second base will be formed. • The second stage follows the course of the Fly River. A third base will be formed at the junction of the Fly and Strickland Rivers, from which the south coast will be explored about the Gulf of Papua. The expedition will take over two years. The scientific staff will number over twenty. Special attention will be paid to medical work. Two wireless operators will accompany them. Mr. McNeill, in an interview, said he was surveying in Papua, before the war ;on behalf of the Australian Government. He hoped that the results of the expedition would attract attention to New Guinea by showing its potentialities measured scientifically. They would produce maps and records solving the problem whether New Guinea was worthy of consideration by prospective tropical settlers. Mr. McNeill has interested a group of influential English people in the result of the expedition. Asked about the cost

he replied, “Well, we need over £60,000. We are appealing for public subscriptions. We do not count on any Government help.” Mr. Lucius Connolly. of Melbourne, has been appointed general secretary.