WILD PAPUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 5

WILD PAPUA.

EPIC STORY TOLD.

KING'S MEDAL CONFERRED. NATIVE SERGEANT HONOURED The story of Senior-Sergeant Gaiberi, of the Papuan Armed Constabulary, the only Papuan ever to receive so high a distinction as the King's Police Medal, has been told before. The story of Gaiberi's death before he was presented with the honour is told for the first time in the annual report of the Lieutenantgovernor, Sir Hubert Murray.

Gaiberi was a man of courage and resolution. When r>oo bushmen, seeking vengeance for 18 of their tribe who had been drowned during a canoe cruise, descended on the coastal tribes, Gaiberi, with four of his men, marched against the uOO, arrested 93 of them and drove the remainder back to their native hill*. A few weeks after Gaiberi had been honoured he died. "He literally caught his death of cold in going, in the pouring rain, to the local store in order to buy tobacco for some strangers who had arrived at the station. 'For,' he said, 'it is not right that guests should be allowed to go without a present,"' reports Sir Hubert. His Funeral. This description of Gaiberi's funeral was given by Mr. Cridland, a Resident Magistrate. "The body was dressed in an armed constable's uniform, the deceased's 'digger' hat was placed on his head and his whistle rested on hU. chest. About 11 a.m. the bier was carried to the office by the police; here the cortege halted |while the Pupiian Ensign was draped jreverently over the body", and the Resi!ent Magistrate had a short talk to the assembled mourners and told them of the high honour that had recently been bestowed upon the deceased bv His j Majesty the King.

"The procession then' wended its way -lowly through the plantation to the ,cemetery. The police fired a over

the grave. It was a most impressivei occasion—tlie spot a small knoll over- j looking- the entrance to Tiitt Fiord, a, small band of native mourners, thej Papuan Knsign flying at half-mast, a light drizzle of rain falling- and the lonej white officer standing at the,salute. ' '"I left the mourners with "choir dead.! On returning later I noticed that a Shelter consisting of Mopping mats had; been erected over the grave, and under-j neath had been placed the deceased's.; cricket bat (he was captain of the, station cricket club), his shoes, pipe. l tobacco and matches, betel-nut and lime; I>ot, and other personal belongings. A fire had been built nearby. On inquiring of one of the armed constables, who appeared to be on guard, a< to their reason for placing those things: on the grave. I was told that should the, sergeant wish to 'walk about' at night time and perhaps visit the barracks, hoi would have those things near at hand to J which he had been accustomed in lire ' The fire would help to keep him warm! should the night be cold." Gaiberi's grave is on a hillock over-; looking the sea, so that his spirit might ! have a view of all shipping that comes i into the harbour. | i