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OF

Ordinance made by the Governor-General under that Act. The Act also authorised the GovernorGeneral to make Ordinances having the force of law in the Territory.

Early in 1938 an Administration party ec a protracted patrol of the unexplored area of Mt. Hagen to the border of Dutch New and northward to the Sepik River.

situated south of the 60th degree of South longitude and lying between the 160th degree of East longitude and the 45th degree of East longitude was placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia. An Act was passed in June, 1933, by the Commonwealth Parliament declaring acceptance of the territory as a territory under the authority of the Commonwealth by the name of the Australian Antarctic Territory; and the Order in Council was brought into operation on 24th August, 1936 by a Proclamation issued on that date by the Governor-General.

THE TERRITORY OF NEW
GUINEA.

(FORMERLY GERMAN NEW GUINEA.)

In 1884, Germany declared a Protectorate over Kaiser Wilhelm Land (the north-eastern part of the Island of New Guinea) and the adjacent Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, and in later years the Protectorate was extended to the German Solomon Islands, Nauru, and to the Marshall, Caroline, Mariana and Pelew groups, North of the Equator.

The control and development of Kaiser Wilhelm Land was from 1885 to 1899 vested in the German New Guinea Company, which, to all intents and purposes, constituted a Government in itself, and issued its own coinage, but in 1899, the Imperial German Government again assumed control, making annual grants from the Imperial Treasury towards the cost of administration. The seat of Government was at Rabaul in New Britain.

That portion of German New Guinea, which, has, since the 12th September, 1914, been adminis tered by Australia, consists of Kaiser Wilhelm Land, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Buka and Bougainville (Solomon Islands). At the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations in December, 1920, a mandate to administer these territories was issued to the Commonwealth. The islands North of the Equator are administered by Japan.

The Mandate gave to the Government of The Commonwealth of Australia full powers of administration and legislation over the territory of New Guinea subject to the Mandate as an integral portion of the Commonweath of Australia, and permitted the Government of the Common. wealth to apply the laws of the Commonwealth to the Territory, subject to such local modification as circumstances might require.

The New Guinea Act 1920 of the Commonwealth of Australia deolared that the territories and islands specified in the Act, being the former German possessions described in the Mandate, should be a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth by the name of the Territory of New Guinea, and enacted that, except as prescribed in that Act or any Act, the Acts of the Commonwealth of Australia should not be in force in the Territory unless expressed to extend thereto or unless applied to the Territory by Ordinance made by the Governor-General under that Act. The Act also authorised the GovernorGeneral to make Ordinances having the force of law in the Territory.

From the ninth of May, 1921, the commencement of civil administration, until the second of May, 1933, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth in Council made Ordinances having the force of law in and in relation to the Territory. The New Guinea Act 1932, which amended the New Guinea Act 1920-1926, created an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The Legislative Council is comprised of the Administrator and eight official, and seven nominated nonofficial, members. Subject to the provisions of the New Guinea Act 1920-1935, the Legislative Council has power to make Ordinances for the peace, order, and good government of the Territory. The first sitting of the Legislative Council for the Territory was held on the ninth of May, 1933, at Rabaul.

Geographical Description.

The Mainland of New Guinea is the North East part of New Guinea, having an area of about 70,000 square miles, nearly one third of the whole Island of New Guinea, the balance of which is divided between Holland (Dutch New Guinea), and the Commonwealth of Australia (Papua). It is divided into three districts namely, Sepik, Madang and Morobe, the most important of the three being Morobe, with head-quarters at Salamaua. The largest goldfield of the Territory is located in the vicinity of Wau in the Morobe district.

Possessing a long, but little indented coast line, the Mainland has few good harbours, the best being probably Madang and Vanimo Harbour, Sek Harbour, Hatzfeldt Harbour, Monumbo Harbour, and Finsch Harbour, though Morobe Haven is a well protected little port. Aitape is practically an open roadstead, and here, as is the case generally right along the coast, shipping, when desiring to anchor during heavy weather, is forced to do so under the lee of one of the many islands which dot the coast.

In respect of rivers, however, the three districts are more fortunate. The Sepik River in the Sepik district is a fine stream which rises in the Victor Emmanuel Range and has its mouth situated about 70 miles south east of Aitape. For vessels of up to about 600 tons it is navigable for a distance of over 400 miles from its mouth, whilst vessels of greater size have covered a distance of over 200 miles. The Ramu or Ottilien River, a long but smaller river than the Sepik, rises in the Bismarck Ranges in the Madang District and discharges at a spot not many miles South East from the mouth of the Sepik. In the Morobe District is the Markham River, which is smaller than the two above-mentioned streams. It flows into the Huon Gulf.

The whole of the Mainland is very mountainous some peaks rising to a height of about 13,000 feet. One or two of the islands along the coast are also mountainous, Vulcan Island being an active volcano. The mainland is believed to possess considerable mineral wealth. Extensive goldmining operations are being carried out in the Morobe District, and a goldfield is also being worked in the vicinity of Wewak in the Sepik District.

A policy of intensive patrolling is pursued by the Administration with a view to the bringing under control of the hitherto unknown inland areas, and Government stations and police posts have been established throughout a large area of the mainland. Early in 1938 an Administration party commenced a protracted patrol of the unexplored area westward of Mt. Hagen to the border of Dutch New Guinea and northward to the Sepik River.

The Bismarck Archipelago consists of New Britain, New Ireland, the Admiralty Islands and all the smaller adjacent groups of islands such as Lavongai and the Duke of York Group.

New Britain, a long, narrow crescent shaped island is the largest and most important island of the Archipelago.

The area of the island is estimated at 14,600 square miles and as the mean breadth is only 50 miles, its extreme narrowness can be easily realized. A high and very rugged range of mountains runs from one end of New Britain to the other. The island has been crossed by patrols at the northern and western extremities and also near the centre from Cape Beechy on the south coast to Bangula Bay on the north coast, the same patrol crossing also from north to south. travelling a distance of 90 miles. No hostile natives were encountered. By means of the vigorous system of patrols now in operation, and the development of roads into the interior, the exploration of the island is being progressively continued.

The highest peak in New Britain is an active volcano, The Father, 7,500 feet high, on the north west coast, near which are the two mountains, the North and South Son. Close to Rabaul are three peaks, the Mother and the South and North Daughter, the first named being an extinct volcano. Volcanic action is very evident throughout New Britain, especially in the north, where, close to Rabaul, are found the Matupi Sulphur Springs situated at the foot of the Mother in Matupi Harbour. Vulcan Island which lies on the south side of Blanche Bay, made its appearance in one night, in 1878, during an eruption from Mount Mother, when violent earthquakes were also experienced.

Serious volcanic disturbances took place at Rabaul on 29th May, 1937, and the following days. Vulcan Island, in Rabaul Harbour, erupted on Saturday, 29th May, emitting dense volumes of smoke and covering Rabaul with volcanic dust. Matupi, about 2 miles from Rabaul also erupted on 30th May. Both volcanoes continued active until the morning of 3rd June. Heavy deposits of pumice dust and mud fell on Rabaul breaking countless trees and blocking streets which became quagmires. The harbour became impassable owing to a thick layer of floating pumice. Most of the buildings in Rabaul were unharmed structurally, but they were covered thickly with volcanic dust.

It was necessary to evacuate the European, Asiatic and native population from Rabaul to Kokopo, about 20 miles away.

The volcanoes practically completed active eruption on 3rd June and a commencement was then made with the task of cleaning the roofs and clearing the streets of Rabaul.

The residents of the town were permitted to return there and take up residence from 10th June, 1937. Two Europeans were lost as a result of the eruptions. A Chinese trader on the North coast was killed when his store collapsed during the heavy storm which followed the eruptions. There were heavy casualties amongst the native population in villages in the vicinity of Vulcan Island. Exhaustive check failed to account for a total of 424 natives comprising adults and children of both sexes.

Unlike the Mainland, New Britain is fortunate in possessing several good harbours, the best being Simpson Harbour, the inlying portion of Blanche Bay; others are Jacquinot Bay, Arawe, Linden Harbour and Powell Harbour on the south-east and south coasts and Rein Bay and Talasea Harbour on the north coast.

There are no rivers of any importance in the Island, those that do exist being short rapid-flowing streams.

Rabaul is situated upon Simpson Harbour, which is horse-shoe in shape, with good depths, well protected from winds and weather, and affords a most excellent anchorage for oversea shipping.

The bulk of the white population of New Britain has grouped itself in or near Rabaul, though settlers with coconut plantations, have operated at various suitable points practically round the whole coast line.

New Ireland lies close and practically at right angles to the northern end of New Britain. It is a long narrow Island, very mountainous, without any rivers of size, and geologically older than New Britain. The volcanic appearances so definite in the latter island are not evident in New Ireland. Its coast line is fairly unbroken and its best harbours are at Kavieng, Namatanai and Muliama on the north and east coasts and Kalili on the west coast. Crossings of the island have been made from time to time in several places, and here and there very fair roads exist.

The whole of New Ireland is included in one District under the control of a District Officer stationed at Kavieng, which is a substantial little tropical town with good Government Buildings. A Government Wharf capable of berthing overseas ships has been built.

For some years, concern has been felt at the rapid decrease of the native population of New Ireland. This was believed to be to a great extent attributable to the fact that too many men were being recruited for labour in other parts of the Territory; and for several years some parts of the island were closed against recruiting.

The Admiralty Islands comprise a small group lying about 380 miles to the north west of Rabaul, and constitute the district of Manus, with headquarters at the principal port, Lorengau, situated on the north east corner of the island of Manus, which is the largest of the group and of the same rugged mountainous type as its neighbours, New Britain and New Ireland, though apparently free from volcanoes. What rivers exist are naturally small and unimportant. Several useful though small harbours provide good anchorages for small shipping which touches at these islands.

A

To the north west of the Admiralty Islands, at a distance of about 200 miles, are the three small groups, the Ninigo, Hermit and Anchorite Islands, better known as the North Western Islands. particularly fine type of native is found inhabiting these Islands. The groups contain no harbours, excepting in the lagoons at The Hermit and Ninigo Groups; and in most cases depths ranging to about 200 fathoms are found close inshore, rendering it impossible for vessels to anchor while loading copra, of which a fair quantity is produced.

It is in the waters adjacent to the Admiralty Islands that most of the shell fishing in the Territory is carried on, trochus and gold-lip being obtained in large quantities.

The Solomon Islands.-The portion of the Solomon Islands included in the Territory consists of the islands of Bougainville and Buka, which constitute the district of Kieta, their total area being about 4,100 square miles.

These two islands are very mountainous, particularly Bougainville, where there are found several volcanoes. Mount Balbi, a peak in the Emperor Range in the centre of the Island, with a height of over 10,000 feet, is a dormant volcano,

whilst Mount Bagana, in the Crown Prince Ranges is at the present time an active crater.

There are several good harbours along the coast, the principal being Kieta on the East coast of Bougainville. This is a very well protected bay, almost landlocked, with its entrance protected by a well defined coral reef. Shipping of fair draught finds a suitable anchorage close inshore to the little town of Kieta. Other good harbours are found at Raua and Tinputs, also at Carola Haven on Buka Island.

Industry Trade and Customs.

The Territory comprises some 24,000,000 hectares of land, most of which is capable of cultivation under tropical staples. Of this area, 294,745 hectares are alienated. The total area of plantations. exclusive of native reserves, was at 30th June, 1937, 197,230 hectares. The area under cultivation at that date was 95,946 hectares. In the many islands of the Archipelago and the North-East New Guinea, land of all kinds is to be met with, from coral atolls to granite peaks. A considerable portion is flat and comparatively low lying, with soil ranging from sand to light sandy loam, usually overlying a sub-soil of broken coral ideal for coconuts, with which much has been planted.

Larger islands, while they frequently have a margin, or at least stretches of soil similar to the above, rise into undulating foot-hills, with or without peaks and headlands. On these the soil is of a heavier nature, ranging from sedimentary deposits to rich, and in some cases, comparatively recent, volcanic soils. Still larger islands, which often have a range of hills as a backbone, and areas of swamp near the coast, have soils grading from light sand to rich heavy clays. Many of these are well watered with creeks and rivers, in the valleys of which the richest of alluvial soils are to be met with, capable of growing anything. Not only is the Territory particularly favoured in the matter of soils and rainfall, but the fact that it is outside the cyclone and hurricane belts, enables agricultural industries to be undertaken with greater security than many places afford.

At present the Territory is largely dependent upon agriculture, i.e., the cultivation of coconuts for the manufacture of copra and desiccated coconut. There are at present some 460 coconut plantations opened, owned and worked by Europeans, of an average area of between four and five hundred acres scattered through the Archipelago.

Other staples being cultivated to a smaller extent are, in about the order mentioned, cocoa, coffee, kapok, tobacco and arrowroot, often in conjunction with coconuts or each other.

The mineral wealth of the islands can only be sur mised. Gold was discovered in February, 1926, at Edie Creek, 65 miles (35 air miles) south-west of Sala maua, the Port of the Goldfields. Salamaua is situated on an isthmus of a bay in Huon Gulf, on the mainland of New Guinea. The amount of gold exported from the 9th May, 1921 to 30th June, 1937, was 1,941,729 ozs., valued at 9,242,7811. Nearly all the production was obtained from alluvial mining. For the production of gold, six dredges have been transported in sections from the coast to the goldfields by aeroplanes, and are now in operation. Promising lodes have, however, been discovered. Access to the field is difficult, as it is situated at an altitude of 6,600-6,800 feet, and the journey from the coast by road occupies seven days. The journey by air

| takes about one hour, and several companies are operating air services. Mineral oil has been found although as yet not in commercial quantities. Sulphur is obtainable, whilst it is believed that copper and nickel deposits exist. The transport difficulty has proved a very effectual bar to the efforts of prospectors up to the present; and it is only with the expenditure of considerable capital that any venture is likely to be successful until the country has been opened up.

The shell fishing industry is one that cannot be overlooked when assessing the commercial value of the colony. Large quantities of trochus, green snail, gold-lip and black-lip are obtained yearly and the revenue obtained therefrom, which includes a royalty, is considerable. The value of marine products exported from the Territory during the year ended 30th June, 1937, amounted to 28,360l.

The import tariff is largely on a 10 % ad valorem basis. Export duties are levied on copra, trepang, tortoise shell, mother of pearl shell and the feathers of certain birds. No export duty on copra is levied when the London price is less than £10 per ton which, on the basis of the present assessment of price for duty purposes, is equivalent to £5 15s. Od. per ton, Rabaul.

Climate and Health.

The

The climate, and particularly the rainfall over so widely spread a group of islands, must naturally vary considerably in different parts. Generally speaking, the rainfall is plentiful and reliable. A N.W. monsoon period between December and February; and à S.W. between March and November are experienced. latter, during which steady trade winds occur, and the islands are seldom without a breeze, constitutes the cooler and more pleasant portion of the year. No especial dry belts exist, and droughts of more than a few months' duration are unknown.

The average rainfall for the Territory may be taken as 100 to 125 inches per annum. The following are the averages for the districts :88.28 inches

Rabaul, New Britain

Gasmata, South New Britain.. 223.77
Talasea, North New Britain 171.21
Kavieng, North New Ireland.. 120-71
Namatanai, South New Ireland
Madang, Central New Guinea
Sattleberg, South New Guinea
Wewak, North New Guinea
Kieta, Bougainville Islands
Manus, Admiralty Islands

141:47 141.26

176*55

87.99

122'62

150.95