RABAUL REFUGEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 June 1937, Page 7

RABAUL REFUGEES

RELUCTANT TO RETURN. NEW CAPITAL DESIRED. MANY NATIVES KILLED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 6. At least 80 per cent, of the. refugees at Ivokopo are reluctant to return to Rabaul. They declare that a new capital should be established, preferably at Kokopo. The Administrator (Brigadier-Gen-eral W. McNicoll) so far lias reached no decision, but be lias been surprised at the smallness of the damage in Rabaul, which, lie says, merely requires cleaning up. This is proceeding. The relief ship Malaita arrived today with foodstuffs, bedding and medical comforts. Another white man is missing at Rabaul. He is a wireless operator from the freighter Golden Bear. The volcanoes are. now quiet. Only a wisp of smoke comes from Matupi. Tragic news comes from Rev. Father George Bogershausen, who is a Roman Catholic Mission father in New Britain, reporting that 261 natives perished in the volcanic eruptions. The victims were overwhelmed by lava fumes at Tayum and'Walaur, in the vicinity of Vulcan Island. The natives belonged to the Gunan Tunaii tribe. They consider themselves the “True People,” and number about 25,009. They livo in the bush and jungle and occupy the New Britain coast. A Inter report expresses the fear that literally hundreds of natives are dead. They are chiefly women and children, whose decomposing bodies are covered with a thin layer of pumice dust. PROBABLY 300 DEAD. DAMAGE TO PLANTATION. Received June 7. 10.25 a.m. SYDNEY, June 7. A message from Rabaul says that it is now believed that 300 natives were killed in the Karavia District during the eruptions and heavy damage was caused to plantations for miles around. One coffee property worth £40,000 has been entirely demolished. For the first time for a week no earth tremor was felt at Kokopo oil Saturday niglit.