SALAMAUA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1938, Page 5

SALAMAUA

WORLD'S YOUNGEST CAPITAL. With no glittering white buildings such as its foster-parent, Canberra, boasts,, or any other trappings of a city. Salamaua (New Guinea), takes its place as the world's youngest capital. Set on a long, narrow isthmus of land, with the water- lapping lazily on either shore, with stilted houses, kuni huts, and palm trees, perhaps a trading schooner riding at anchor on the bay, or a fish trap slung in the trees, bathed in a pearly morning mist or flooded in brilliant tropic sunshine —that is Salamaua. One may imagine the neighbouring Drums or Mer rumbling a welcome, or an unseen orchestra of native tomtoms heralding this place, where, "be fore the advent of civilisation men came with brave hope—and some left equally brave in failure.” Behind Salamaua is the aerodrome set between the sea and the ranges. Overhead zooms efficient planes running to schedule as a railway train. In the future a fine road will link the capital with goldfields and the fertile valley, a road will connect the administrative headquarters at Lae. Large expenditure will transform the harbour and Salamaua will enter her new era. —Gladys Mann, in the Sydney “Daily Herald."