NEW GUINEA.

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1922, Page 5

NEW GUINEA.

AN EXPEDITION TO SURVEY INTERIOR. LONDON, July 5. Mr N. V. L. McNeil, of Melbourne, directs the British Pacific Science Expedition, which proposes to penetrate the unexplored regions of New Guinea towards the end of the your. Mr McNeil states that they will travel rigfct across the island from north to south, landing on the North Coast in longitude .142 cast, thence across the Victor Emmanuel mountains, and Mount Blucher, where the second base will be formed. The second stage follows t\o course of the Fly River. The third base will be formed at the junction of the Fly and Strickland Rivers from which the South Coast will be explored about the Gulf of Papua. The expedition will take over two years. The scientific staff will number over 20, and special attention is to be paid to the medical work. Two wireless operators accompany them. Mr McNeil said that he was surveying in Papua before the war on behalf of the Australian Government. He hoped that the. results of the expedition would attract attention to New Guinea by showing its potentialities. ‘‘Measured scientifically,’’ he said. “shall produce maps and ieeords solving the problems whethei New Guinea is worthy of consideration by prospective tropical settlers.’ "Mr McNeil has interested a group of influential Englisli people in the result of the expedition. Asked about the cost, he, replied: “Well, we need over £60,000, and we are appealing for public subscriptions. We don’t count on any Government help.” Mr Lucius Connolly, of Melbourne, has been appointed general secretary.