General Sir Peter Scratchley was appointed Special Commissioner for the Protectorate, and arrived in 1885, but he succumbed, in the Protectorate, to malarial fever in November of the same year. He was succeeded by the Hon. John Douglas, C.M.G., formerly Premier of Queensland. At the Colonial Conference held in 1887, the Colonies of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria undertook to guarantee £15,000 a year for ten years, for defraying the cost of administering the territory now forming the Possession, on the understanding that Her Majesty's Sovereignty would be proclaimed over it. By the Queensland British New Guinea Act, 1887, that colony undertook to be responsible for the payment of the £15,000 a year. The territory was annexed to the Crown by the newly appointed Administrator, Dr. (afterwards Sir W.) Macgregor, on 4th September, 1888.

some

The Imperial Government contributed £52,000 towards the founding of the Possession. The local revenue raised in the Possession was formerly paid over to Queensland, for distribution amongst the guaranteeing colonies, in reduction of their contribution of £15,000 a year, but is now kept and expended by the Government of the Possession. At the end of 1901 the Government of the Commonwealth agreed to take over the Possession as a territory of the Commonwealth, and brought proposals before the Federal Parliament (which were adopted) for providing towards the expenses of administration a sum not exceeding £20,000 a year. The provision ran from 1st July, 1901, and was subject to revision at the end of five years. On the 1st Sept., 1906, a Proclamation was issued by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, under the provisions of the Papua Act, 1905, declaring British New Guinea a Territory of the Commonwealth, under the name of "Papua." The above Act provides that there shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Commonwealth towards the revenues of the Territory in each financial year, such sum, if any, as the Parliament appropriates for that purpose. In 1937-38, £42,500 was paid by the Commonwealth Government as a grant to the Administration.

Description and Formation.

Papua extends from east to west upwards of 800 miles, and about 200 from north to south towards either end, but is only about 50 miles deep behind Freshwater Bay, near the middle of the portion of the Territory that is situated on the island of New Guinea. The total coast line of the Territory has been computed at 3,664 statute miles, 1,728 on the mainland and 1,936 on the islands. The total superficial area is about 90,540 square miles, of which about 87,786 are on the mainland of Papua, and 2,754 made up of many islands.

With the exception of the low coral islands of Kiriwina, Nada, part of Murua, and a few others of small dimensions, the islands are mountainous and principally of schistose formation, the highest, Goodenough, 8,000 feet. The eastern end of the Territory is also mountainous, and as the mountains extend westward they rise and coalesce to form a great central chain, which attains its greatest altitudes in the Owen Stanley range, the highest point of which is Mount Victoria, 13,200 feet, and in Mount Scratchley, the Wharton Range, and Mount Albert Edward, the latter about the same height as Mount Victoria. Further west the main range becomes more broken and lower, while pursuing nearly

the same general trend towards the north-west as it had in the more eastern part of the colony. The western end of the Territory is for nearly 300 miles generally low and swampy until a long distance from the coast is reached. The mountains near the east end, on the mainland, are of gneous origin; the great masses of the central part of the main range are all schistose, while in the west sandstone predominates, but there are outcrops of igneous formation, such as Mount Yule, upwards of 10,000 feet high. On the Fly River, near the point of junction of Papua, Dutch New Guinea and the mandated Territory of New Guinea, there are limestones with fossil corals, and these are also met with at many other places in the low and swampy regions of the western end of the colony and elsewhere. The whole Territory is remarkably well watered. The great mountains, and by far the larger portion of the lower country, are all covered by forest.

Rivers.

The majority of the principal rivers open into the Gulf of Papua. They have a general direction towards a point near the middle of the Gulf. The two largest are the Fly and the Purari. The Fly spreads out its head branches over a large area in the centre of the island, comprising considerable portions of the three different territories. Its course is about 620 miles from the sea to the boundary of Papua. The influence of the tide is felt for six or seven score of miles up the Fly. It is navigable by a steam launch for over 500 miles.

The Purari River is the second in point of size, and seems to start from the southern side of the Bismarck range of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland. It is navigable by steam launch for 120 miles. The Vailala, the Tauri and the Lakekamu also rise in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The Angabunga River has its origin from the western spurs of Mount Albert Edward; the Vanapa from the Owen Stanley Range, the Wharton Chain and the southern slopes of Mount Albert Edward; the Brown from the Owen Stanley Range east of Mount Victoria. On the northeast coast the rivers are all small, except four that open into the sea between Cape Nelson and the boundary of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. These are, proceeding northwards, the Musa, Kumusi, Mambare, and Gira. Each of them pursues a course from the central main range towards the northeast until it enters the sea. The Gira rises from the eastern spurs of Mount Albert Edward, and is smaller that the other three, all of which are nearly of the

same size.

Climate and Natural Resources.

As Papua lies between five and eleven and a half degrees of south latitude, the climate of the lower part of the country is warm. It is outside the range of the hurricanes that pervade_the southern part of the Western Pacific. At Port Moresby, the seat of Government, and situated near the middle of the Territory, the average temperature for the year 1937-38 at 9 a.m. was 80°9. The average maximum readings for the same period, 86°1; the average minimum readings, 75°7. The hot season is from November to May; the hottest months are January and February; the cold season is from June to October, the coldest month is August. During the hot season winds on the south coast are from the north and west, and are unsteady; during the cold season they are from the south-east, and are much more regular.

At Port Moresby the rainfall for the year 1937-38 was 34-53 inches. At Rigo during the same period the rainfall was 30-56 inches, and at Kikori 219-07

inches; these represent the minimum and maximum rainfalls near the coast. It is much greater, but undetermined, on the central mountain ranges. On the south coast the climate is rather comfortable than oppressive during the cold season. It is generally agreeable at an altitude of 2,000 feet, a height that can be reached on foot in one day from Port Moresby. At 5,000 to 6,000 feet it becomes distinctly cold at night, the thermometer sometimes reading 55° F.; at 10,000 feet ice is met with in the early morning. Above that the grass is often covered with hoar frost, and the cold is severe. Malarial fever, as a rule quite mild, is not rare in the low parts of the country. About the time of the change of seasons inflammatory diseases of the chest have always frequently occurred amongst the natives, and more recently the country has suffered from influenza. The mortality from this latter complaint has been estimated to be about two per cent. of the population.

The obstinate scaly ringworm, so common in many parts of the Pacific, occurs frequently amongst the natives. Plague, smallpox and cholera have not been met with since the country has been occupied by Europeans. Yaws is prevalent amongst the natives, and is now being dealt with by means of salvarsan compounds. Dysentery, once very prevalent in epidemic form, seldom occurs now. Europeans suffer from cancer much as they do in non-tropical countries, but cases of cancer amongst the natives are exceedingly rare. As in other parts of the tropics, the natives, with the exception of the dry Port Moresby area, are frequent carriers of ankylostomiasis (hookworm). Syphilis is practically unknown amongst the natives, but gonorrhoea occurs in most districts. Granuloma inguinale occurs especially in the west, east and northern parts of the Territory.

The climate is favourable to the cultivation of all tropical products. The coconut palm bears well everywhere, and is common any where along

the coast line, but in the far interior it is not met

cane

with. Cotton would be specially suited to the dry climate of the central district. Tobacco, in certain localities, of superior quality, and sugar seem to be indigenous or to be long domesticated; there are several native trees and plants that yield good classes of rubber. There are some good varieties of timber, including sandal wood, ebony, and cedar. Tea, cocoa, and coffee thrive well, but are not indigenous; the latter has been introduced and propagated. The climate is very congenial to rice and maize and all kinds of tropical fruit. The mineral deposits comprise gold, which exists over a large area; osmiridium, which has been found from the Gira River to the Owen Stanley Range; and in the Purari sandstone district there is coal. Indications of petroleum have been located at scattered intervals over an area of country covering about 1,500 square miles between Yule Island and the Purari Delta, in the Gulf Division of Papua. Quantities of oil and inflammable gas have been met with in the test bores put down, but not in sufficient bulk as yet for commercial purposes.

The marine resources comprise pearl-shell and pearls, trepang, sponges, trochus, snail and turtle shell.

Fauna and Flora.

There are no dangerous wild beasts in the Territory; wild swine are common. There are several varieties of wallaby, phalanger, and echidna. There are no hares or rabbits; deer are found in the vicinity of Port Moresby, they were introduced

many years ago and are apparently doing well; the most dangerous creature is the crocodile. Many lives are lost each year through these amphibians and by snake-bite. The snakes are nearly related to those of Australia. The birds include the cassowary, many birds of paradise, a great variety of pigeons, the hornbill, the black and the white cockatoo, geese, many species of ducks, quails, and on the mountain tops snipe and woodcock. The flora is as varied as the climate. On the tops of the highest mountain chains there are many species of grasses: several kinds of buttercup, forget-me-nots, daisies, rhododendrons, heaths, and other flowers of temperate climates. The forest there is principally cypress. From seven to ten thousand feet it is chiefly myrtaceous, often covered by trailing bamboo or mixed with pandanus. From two to five thousand feet the evergreen oaks are common. On the low lands there are several varieties of hardwood trees, afzelic bijuga, calophyllum, etc. Native cloth is made by beating out the bark of the paper mulberry, of the bread fruit tree, or of certain trees of the nettle family. Fibre is obtained from the banana, the coconut, from the bark of many saplings, and the best of all from the aerial roots of certain species of pandanus. Most of the trees and flowers that are met with in the tropical islands of the Pacific, or in North Queensland, occur also in Papua.

The People.

diverse as regards physical type and language. The races of Papua are now known to be very As regards culture there is less difference. When Europeans first arrived, the inhabitants used stone, wood and bone implements, but no metals. They cultivated the taro, yam, sweet potato, the banana, and on the coast, the coconut. Weaving and the use of the potter's wheel were unknown. There are believed to be three constituent first is the Negritto, a short dark race. elements in the native population of Papua. The After the Negritto probably came a race called "Papuans," who are dark but taller than the Negrittoes. Subsequently the Melanesians settled along the coast, and are now so mixed with the Papuans that it is difficult to distinguish them. They were of medium height and light-skinned, and probably were the first seamen of the Pacific and travelled in out-rigger canoes.

The present day population of Papua consists of these three elements mixed together in varying proportions.

The European population of Papua at 30th June, 1938 was 1,488. A census of a portion of the indigenous population has been taken and the total number of natives actually counted is 230,962, chiefly residing on the coasts. In the past the total expedition of Messrs. Hides and O'Malley from population had been estimated at 275,000 but the the Strickland River to the Purari River in the first half of 1935 revealed a large population in that tract of country hitherto unknown. A base has been established within that area from which Government patrols are being carried out, and in due course a census of the population will be completed.

The country and people have no history, and but few current well-defined traditions. These refer to only local movements and actions of tribes within the last four or five generations.

A large part of the interior of Papua is still in the stone age, much of it is in a stage of transition in which the stone axe and the steel tomahawk are used side by side. The abori

ginal methods of house-building, of canoe-making, of pottery manufacture, of cultivation, are still generally maintained. Nearly all the coast line and considerable part of the interior has been brought under missionary influence. The whole of the territory has practically been explored and most of it brought under Government control. Five missionary societies are established in the Territory. They are the London Missionary Society, which has for its field the south coast of New Guinea; The Society of the Sacred Heart, which is established at Yule Island, and along the banks of the St. Joseph River (Angabunga) extending to the Main Range; the Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia, which extends its influence over all the archipelagos; the Church of England Mission, which has as its field the north-east coast of New Guinea, the lastnamed constituting the Diocese of New Guinea, organised under a Bishop of the Church of England; and the 7th day Adventist, whose sphere of influence is comprised in the Central Division and is bounded on the North by the Brown River, on the South by the Laloki River and on the East by a line bearing approximately north-east from the coastal village of Kaile to the Main Range. The two first-named

societies were in New Guinea before annexation was proclaimed: the last two have come there since the proclamation of sovereignty. The native population take readily to civilisation in most great matters, while they often cling tenaciously to their own habits and customs in smaller and less important things.

Mode of Government.

Papua had formerly the constitution of a Crown colony, regulated by Royal letters patent of 8th June, 1888, under which the Government was carried on by an Administrator, with the advice and assistance of an executive and a legislative council. The correspondence of the Administrator of British New Guinea with the Secretary of State passed first through the Governor of Queensland, and afterwards through the Governor-General of Australia. By Letters Patent, of 18th March, 1902, provision was made for placing the Possession under the authority of the Commonwealth, and for the revocation of the Letters Patent governing the Constitution as

soon as the Commonwealth Parliament had provided by law for the future government. Provision was made by the Papua Act, 1905, proclaimed on the 1st September, 1906, as above stated. There was no form of Government among the native population, the Polynesian system of chiefs being practically unknown; patriarchal authority did not extend beyond near family relatives, and even then was only loose. A certain measure of chiefly influence is being created now by a few men under Government authority, but control over the natives is being best acquired by the gradual creation of a force of village policemen. The Administration has at its disposal an armed constabulary, consisting of about 300 natives, enrolled from many different districts. Special laws have been passed for the protection of the native population, and for dealing with lands. A code consisting of a series of simple regulations, which are from time to time being added to, has also been passed for the benefit of the native population. The courts of the Territory consist of the Central, Petty Sessions, and Native Magistrates' Courts.

Magisterial Divisions.

The Territory is divided into eight magisterial divisions, in each of which there is a resident magistrate, who is also invested with the executive

authority of dealing in the first instance with any administrative matter that may arise. Besides these there are assistant resident magistrates in certain more populous districts. The Central Court, which possesses the jurisdiction of an ordinary Supreme Court, sits wherever there is occasion. The principal seat of Government is at Port Moresby. This place is centrally situated. It is easy to approach the harbour, which is large, commodious, and sheltered from all winds. Moresby is not well watered, but it is very picturesque, and comparatively healthy. The immediate neighbourhood is not well suited for ordinary cultivation on account of the rather scanty rainfall. Port Moresby is a port of entry.

Port

Samarai, the next place in importance, is an island of some sixty acres situated two miles from the south-east end of the mainland. There is no native village on that island. entry, and the headquarters of the Resident It is a port of Magistrate of the district. anchorage there, but There is good supply. It is the port from which miners, pearl fishers, etc., generally obtain their supplies. Like Port Moresby, the neighbourhood of Samarai is very picturesque. Its rainfall is nearly three times as great as at the former place.

no convenient water

The third port of entry is the island of Daru, the headquarters of the Resident Magistrate for the Western Division. It has a good and safe harbour, with an approach that presents no difficulty. It is the only harbour Papua possesses in the west, and the island supplies the best building sites obtainable in that part of the country. It is visited by many boats engaged in the pearl-shell fishery of Torres Straits. Kwaiapan Bay, Woodlark Island, in the extreme east of the Territory is the fourth Port of Entry.

Industries.

There are no European manufactories in the Territory.

The chief industry worked by Europeans is agriculture, principally coconuts, para rubber and sisa hemp. Two plantations, one in the Central and the other in the Eastern Division, now produce desiccated coconut. Cotton is still in the experimental stage. Gold mining is carried on and petroleum of good quality has been obtained in the Gulf Division, but not as yet in commercial quantities. Gold to the value of 45,9337. in 1933-34, 68,9221. in 1934-35, 81,0347. in 1935-36, 87,0037. in 1936-37, and 108,1411. in 1937-38 was declared at the custom house for export. The gold-bearing country is extensive, but it is for various reasons very difficult to prospect.

There are also indications of auriferous reefs, and several crushing plants have been established. There were exported :-Pearls, 5,7421. in 1934-35; 2,3951. in 1935-36; 1,9667. in 1936-37; and 2,4001. in 1937-38. Trochusshell, 16,9227. in 1933-34; 11,750l. in 1934-35; 13,6097. in 1935-36; 12,581. in 1936-37; and 8,5781. in 1937-38. Bêche-de-mer, 1,6431. in 1933-34; 4,4551. in 1934-35; 1,8027. in 1935-36; 3,9397. in 1936-37; and 1,3637. in 1937-38. Rubber, 61,3241. in 1933-34; 79,0311. in 1934-35; 89,4677. in 1935-36; 124,1741. in 1936-37; and 129,4481. in 1937-38. Since 1907 coconuts have been largely planted by white settlers, the acreage being 47,921 in 1933, 49,033 in 1934, 47,642 in 1935, 48,188 in 1936, and 45,207 in 1937. There is also a very large area of native-owned coconuts, the product of which is extensively used as an article of food. The value of copra exported was 42,990l. in 1933-34; 57,5971. in 1934-35; 100,6811. in 1935-36; 191,808. in 1936-37; and

Manager Orangerie Bay Coconut Plantation, H. R. Glanville, 5827.

Manager Kemp Welch Rubber Plantation, C. E Heiner, 474/.

Public Works Department.

Director of Public Works, A. P. Lyons, 8041. Accountant, W. E. Rosser, 510l.

Medical Department.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. W. M. Strong, 1,000l. Government Medical Officer, Port Moresby, Dr. F. J. Williams, 8001.

Government Medical Officer, Samarai, Dr. C. H. Bonney, 7081.

Government Medical Officer, Misima, Dr. A. J. May, 8001.

Travelling Medical Officer (vacant).

Matron, P.M. Hospital, Miss M. A. Franklin, 2401. board and free quarters.

Matron, Samarai Hospital, Miss M. E. Leetch, 1821., board and free quarters.

Department of Native Affairs. Commissioner for Native Affairs, J. T. O'Malley,

8041.

Chief Inspector, A. S. Greenland, 5827.

Gaols.

Head Gaoler, Port Moresby (vacant).
Gaoler, Samarai, D. P. Cahill, 4261.

Government Printing Office.

Government Printer, W. A. Bock, 6187.
Foreman, A. Gibson, 4507.
Compositor, S. J. Anderson, 4261.
Machinist, W. Nicholas, 3821.

NORFOLK ISLAND.

Norfolk Island is the principal of three small islands lying 930 miles E.N.E. of Sydney, and 630 miles from Auckland, in 29° 3′ 45′′ S. latitude; and 167° 58′ 6′′ E. longitude, the other islets being Phillip and Nepean Islands. They comprise altogether about 15 square miles, and were discovered in 1774 by Captain Cook. They remained uninhabited until 1788, when a penal settlement was formed there. This was removed in 1855, and in 1856 the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island were brought to the group. about 194 persons settling there, with their cattle, sheep, and pigs. The Pitcairn Islanders were the descendants of the Mutineers of H.M.S. "Bounty," who occupied Pitcairn in 1790, and were removed at their own request to Norfolk Island. Of these 40 returned to Pitcairn. The total population at 30/6/37 was 1,085, consisting of 575 males and 510 females. The chief occupation is agriculture. The cultivation of bananas has dwindled and only 965 cases were exported during 1936-1937.

There was formerly but little regular administration, the community being presided over by two of the leading inhabitants as unpaid magistrates, with a simple code of laws. The island was on the 24th June, 1856, placed under the control of the Governor of New South Wales, who was given power to appoint officers, make laws and grant lands. On 1st July, 1914, the island was made a territory of the Commonwealth. It is now under the control of the Territories Branch, Prime Minister's Department, Canberra. In August, 1935, an Advisory Council was created for the purpose of advising the Administrator in relation

to any matter affecting Norfolk Island, including the making of new ordinances or the repeal or amendment of existing ones. The Council consists of 8 members elected by adult franchise. The island is divided into 4 wards, and each ward is represented by 2 members. Candidates who poll the highest number of votes in each ward are elected for 2 years and those who receive the next highest number of votes hold office for one year. An election is held on 31st July each year to elect 4 members to replace the retiring ones. An alternate 12 and 30 days' shipping service in the Territory is maintained by the vessels of Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., 7 Bridge Street, Sydney, under contract with

the Commonwealth Government for the maintenance of shipping services to the Pacific Islands. On one voyage the SS. Morinda leaves Sydney, calls at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island and then proceeds to the New Hebrides, returning to Sydney by the same route. The same vessel then makes a short trip to Norfolk Island and returns to Sydney, calling at Lord Howe Island on both the outward and inward voyages. The journey from Sydney to Norfolk Island occupies 4 days.

There is a resident doctor. Education is free, and there is a Central School with one branch. The School course ranges from the Kindergarten to the Intermediate certificate (New South Wales) standard, with a two years superprimary course according to the requirements of a High School of the Rural Science type. The village is Kingston.

The following goods imported into the Territory are subject to Customs duty: spirits, ale, beer, wine, tobacco, oils, sugar, molasses, biscuits, candles, confectionery, dried fruits, jams, jellies, and preserves. Preference is given in the tariff to Australian wines, tobacco and dried fruits.

No duties are chargeable on goods imported into Australia from the island, if the goods :

(a) are the produce or manufacture of Norfolk Island;

(b) are shipped direct from Norfolk Island to Australia; and

(c) are not goods which if manufactured or pro. duced in Australia would be subject to any duty of Excise. Registration fees are payable in respect of motor vehicles and dogs.

Administrator, Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal,
K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.. 8001.
Chief Magistrate, Colonel F. R. M. Crozier.
Government Medical Officer, Colonel R. F. Baird,
M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.T.M.
Rector, Rev. W. K. Deasey.

President, Advisory Council, W. McLachlan.
Registrar of Lands, J. McWhinney.
Registrar of the Court of Norfolk Island, J. McWhinney.
Official Secretary and Collector of Customs, E. J. Č.
Stopp.

Postmaster, G. H. Wickstead.

THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC

TERRITORY.

By Order in Council of the 7th February, 1933, that part of His Majesty's dominions in the Antarctic Seas which comprises all the islands and territories, other than Adélie Land, which are