PAPUAN WILDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 6

PAPUAN WILDS

EXPEDITION SAFE GREAT EXPLORATION FEAT WILD COUNTRY TRAVERSED [from our own corrkspoxuknt] SYDNEY, Dec. 31 Just when fears had reached their worst for the safety nf the Ivan Champion expedition in Papua, out of touch with civilisation since May 2JI, news was received of the party's safety and the successful conclusion of the patrol, although delays were caused .by the transporting of injured native carriers. Mr. Champion, who is an assistant resident magistrate in Papua, left in May this year for the StricklandPurari with the object of obtaining information about the district and making contact with the natives. He was accompanied by Patrol-Officer C. T. Adainson. Supplies were expected to last until October, and when, by the end of that month, no word had been received of the patrol, concern was felt, as the area in which it was operating was wild and uncivilised. Searches were made by air, river and land, and another party was on the point of setting out when news of the party s safety was received. Transporting the Injured The message received from Mr. Champion by wireless from Port Roinilly, Papua, was: "Expect arrive Koniilly 30th. Delayed up-river, transporting injured across range. Patrol successful. Ascended Leonard Murray Mountain, then across the Plateau and Upper Kikori to Lake Kutubu, and thence north-east across all grass valleys, over Mount Giluwer, and down the Kiucal Valley, crossing to Purari Waters. Friendly relations established with every tribe. No hostilities, and 110 loss of life." Another message said that the party was rafting down the river. Extreme difficulty was encountered in transporting the injured carriers across the rough mountains bordering the Purari River. Apart from this, however, they had travelled in leisurely fashion, so that they might thoroughly explore the country. They climed the Leonard Murray Mountain and examined lakes there. Their path lay across a limestone plateau. Stores were relayed to a deep lake named Kutubu, where the native population' was studied. Next they climbed 14,000 feet to the summit of Mount Giluwer. All valleys in that area were found to be inhabited. Finally they crossed the divide to the Purari headquarters. Another Epic Journey The expedition is accepted as rivalling the epic journey of Mr. Jack Hides through the hinterland of Papua last year. Mr. Hides explored 7000 square miles of country between the headwaters of the Strickland and Purari Rivers. His remarkable report of the discovery of <in unknown, industrious race prompted the Government to authorise the Champion expedition to Papua's only remaining unknown tract r—that to the south of Hides' country. Mr. Champion and Mr. Adainson were sent to the Strickland-Purari district, ■with a view to opening up the area which had been partly explored by Mr. Hirft>s. They reported in May that they had gone up the Bamu River, and were on the slopes of Leonard Muira\ Mountain. The patrol, which consisted of the two white men, 12 armed native constables, and 27 native carriers, was fully equipped, and it was hoped to eke out supplies by making friends with the natives.