The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1922. NEW GUINEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1922. NEW GUINEA.

The announcement that Mr. N. V. L. McNeil], of Melbourne, wiil direct the British Pacific Science expedition, which proposes to penetrate the unexplored regions of New Guinea, should certainly stimulate interest in a territory about which little is known. The grant of a mandate to Australia for the series of islands generally described as German New Guinea, was followed by the appointment of an administrator by the Australian Government, also by the substitution of a system of civil administration for that of military control, which had been exercised since the islands were captured from Germany by the Australian forces. The Royal Commission appointed to visit the mandated territory and report as to what form of Government should be established there, differed in their views, partly because the territory was not a compact area, and of the difficulty which would arise from vesting the administration in a Lieutenant-Gov-ernor who already had the responsibility of looking after Papua. Besides the portion of the mainland of the island of New Guinea, the territory consists of a large number of smaller islands, some of which are of substantial size. New Britain contains 10.000 square miles, New Ireland 4600. Bourdain ville 3500, and New Hanover over 500 square miles. There are several chains of mountains with peaks ranging to over ten thousand feet. By reason of so much of the country being occupied by these mountains, and the swampy and inaccessible nature of other portions of the land, the extent available for settlement is comparatively limited. With a yearly rainfall varying from seventy to two hundred inches, it is obvious that some large rivers exist, one of which (the Sepik. or Kaiserin Augusta) is navigable for vessels of 600 tons for over two hundred miles. Generally, the country is densely wooded and has masses of strong, coarse vegetation reaching several feet in height, of a useless kind, indicating a. hard subsoil utterly unfit for cultivation. This territory contains a native population of about 350,000. many of the tribes being originally cannibals, and wherever they have not been brought under control, the practice still prevails. The greater portion of the property formerly possessed by Germans and others consisted of coconut plantations. the area planted being 144.979 acres, out of’nearly 700.000 acres privately owned. Aaboud. the chief centre, is only 3 degrees south latitude, so is always hot. the saddle ridge of Namanula getting all the breezes that blow. It is safe to say that the greater part of New Guinea has never been explored, even casually, and it appears to be Mr. McNeill’s intention to undertake that work in a systematic manner-, forming several bases, and searching for evidence of the nature of the resources of the country and the future possibilities of the territory, particularly with regard to prospective settlement. It would seem that, in the main, the land is not favorable for European enterprise, -though research may reveal unexpected avenues of promise, possibly in the nature of minerals. It is one of those pioneering projections that have always proved attractive to the British race, and it is evident that the penetrating of this practically unknown country will not be by any means a. picnic, hut a serious undertaking requiring expert organisation, and supported by a sufficient armed force to cope with the cannibalistic natives. An appeal is to he made to the public for funds, it being estimated that sixty ’thousand sterling will be required, though for a two years’ survey and the maintenance of transport and bases the estimate appears very moderate. In a manner of speaking this expedition isi a necess ; ty, and though it would be prudent not to feel too san-

guine of the results being satisfactory, yet it is the onjy way in •which to determine the potential value of a territory that should be capable of adding materially to British resources and commodities. Mr. McNeill deserves commendation for undertaking such an exploration, and it is to be hoped the venture will prove as successful as anticipated.