GERMAN NEW GUINEA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3091, 7 May 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMAN NEW GUINEA.

(iItFAT MOTiTAUTY AT THE ISLANDS. A ('(ißni'st'ONDKXT at German New Guinea writes unde' date February 'Jnth : '• I'iornpteii by Ihe high price whieh the toh.'C -o grown in S,tempi import bad ive'.i-ed in t!'o Bremen market, n new ciii.j'sny was parted (•••eciilly under tho nan " of the Astrolabe B.ty Comp.-.ny, with the ot j. ,T et of grown.g thst-e!-:s-. tohs'vo on tho plains aro'tnil tile A-,! laho Bay. This company is in r.-a'ity nothing '-ess i hail the old New Guinea Co-epsmV under another name. As it «•<:? found nse'rsi to try lo grow tohaceo without skilled labour, it w.ts decided to import Chinamen labour-a.-. The first eontingent of Chinese--aJiout b*U) - lis-'-. 'd ;<bou! 0.-lnher, and Work was <:noui'Uiced st Ercd: ii;h Wilhehn a !li'von. Of these -100 Ohiuere-, about '.hl') have died lip to date of fever, dys mtei'y, iniltieii/'a, and oilier complaints. Several other sbijimeuts have arrivel since then, and .-ickm-ss has already thinned their numbers considerably. A great number of natives from the" Bismarck Archipelago have bren recruited in the last two years, and like the Chinese, tliesa poor follow* are also dying at a fearful rate in the different stations around the Astrolabe Bay, and the ways and means to maintain health seem to be very scanty, owina to the supplies of medical comforts failing. The death rate of the European

settlers is also considerable. Th-'. steamer Isabel brought twenty-six sick people from German New Guinea to the' Bismarck Arohipchigo, and the captain of that vessel, as well as tho ollie M's ami ship's crew, were in such a bad state of health that the steamer had to stay in the Bismark Archipelago about three "weeks before slio was able to resume lic-r return passage to New Guinea. O'vinn- to the great mortality and other difficulties several of the German New Guinea Company's stations have been abandoned and broken up. 1 Up to date about £500,000 must have been spent by the German Now Guinea Company, with very poor results. New Guinea is without doubt., an unhealthy country, but there are many just as unhealthy countries in tho world where experience and prudence have conquered the difficulties and created great, results. It is to be hoped that tho New Guinea Company will eventually reap tho benefit of its liberal efforts to create a Gorman colony in the Pacific. On Mole Island, one of tho Purdy Group, a largo quantity of phospliato of lime has been obtained under tho supervision, of an ox» porioncod chemist, but owing to tho bad facilities is still stored on tho island, and will liavo to remain th°rc until the arrival of a better season. Doubtless tliora are many more islands within the territory where phosphate of lime can be obtained.'