TOWN OF MADANG

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24693, 20 September 1943, Page 2

TOWN OF MADANG

TROPICAL BEAUTY NEW GUINEA HARBOUR BY B. W. COLLINS, M.SC., F.G.B. Laid out in the form of a beautiful tropical garden, with its bungalows, Government offices and stores almost hidden among the coconut palms, and with masses of vegetation everywhere, the town of Madang was one of New Guinea's beauty sjiots which never failed to win praise from tourists. For some years before 1899 Madang was the capital of what was then German New Guinea, and it was known as Friedrichwilhelmsliafen. In that year the German Imperial Government took over the control of the administration from the German New Guinea Company, a commercial organisation which had been granted extensive privileges, and the capital was transferred to Herbertshohe now Kokopo, on Blanche Bay, near liabaul, in New Britain. /The unhealthy, humid climate of Madang had claimed too many victims of fever. A Fine Harbour However, the lack of a protected harbour at Herbertshohe caused a further move in 1910, and Rabaul, on Simpsoniiafen, was chosen as the new capital. This town remained the centre of the German and then of the Australian regimes until 1941, when a transfer was being made to Lae, on the mainland. This was caused by the Rabaul eruptions a few years before, but was interrupted by the Japanese invasion. Madang possesses the finest of many fine harbours on the north coast of New Guinea. Ocean liners can tie up in deep water at the wharf only a stone's throw from the land, a contrast with the shallow open roadsteads of Lae, Salaniaua and Wewak. The entrance to Madang's commodious landlocked harbour is protected by many low, palm-dotted coral islands. Scene ol Great Beauty The jungle-covered coast, with here and there a coconut plantation, and the scattered tropical bungalows at the water's edge, each with its own landing stage, combine to make a scene of great beauty. A notable landmark is the hospital, on a point projecting into the harbour and surrounded by colourful gardens, in the middle of which was a huge red cross of brilliant red flowering plants bordered by white blocks of coral.

Ten miles north of Madang, and reached by a narrow passage between the mainland and a line of low bushcovered coral islands, is Alexishafen, or Sek, the site of the headquarters ot the Catholic mission in North-east New Guinea. There is also a good harbour here, and an aerodrome which is probably better, and certainly more accessible, than that at Madang. In 1938 the latter was only a relatively small clearing in the jungle on the side of the harbour opposite to the town and wharf and approached only by a motorboat through a long and winding channel between mangrove swamps. Attractions for Japanese

The harbours and aerodrome sites, the central position of the north coast of New Guinea, the admirable cover for small coastal craft and barges afforded by the jungle-covered coast and its strings of outlying islands, and the proximity of many prosperous native villages from which food could be obtained, are no doubt some of the reasons why the Japanese have apparently established themselves in force in the Madang-Alexishafen area. With Salamaua now invested, Madang becomes of increasing importance to the Japanese as a supply base for their most advanced positions at Finschhafen, on the eastern end of the Huon Peninsula. THE, LEAGUE CODE ROOPE ROOSTER MATCHES

The semi-finals of the Auckland Rugby League's Roope Rooster competition were played at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, when Manukau and Ponsonby qualified for the final in the principal attraction Mauukau narrowly defeated Mount Albert in a keen but not spectacular game. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Richmond by Ponsonby, which fielded a greatly strengthened team. A feature of this game was the brilliant display at centre-threequarter of B. Riley, who scored four of Pousonby's tries. Play in the main game, between Manukau and Mount Albert, lacked the spectacular football of previous matches. It was confined mostly to the forwards, there being a lack of constructive movements. The first spell was closely contested, Manukau leading at half-time by 5 points to 2. In the second spell only one try was scored, and it came from splendid play by Rogers, a Manukau forward of promise. The scorer. Shalfoon, was making his debut, being a former Bay of Plenty representative. Martin played his usual sound game at ful'Tiack for Mauukau, but the best back on the ground was Murray, who played splendidly at five-eighths. Rogers, Shilton and Thompson were the pick of the forwards. Results were:—Manukau. 8 (tries by Shilton and Shalfoon and field goal by Murray), Mount Albert. 2 (penalty goal by Cratich); Ponsonby, - iy (tries by B. Riley, 4, and Kay, "Webb converting two). Richmond, 14 (tries by Jack and Lowther, McDonald converting one and kicking a penalty goal, Magill also kicking two penalty goals). Representative Game. —In a game played at Huntly on Saturday afternoon Auckland was defeated by South Auckland by tit) point's to 15. The home team outclassed Auckland in the first spell and led by 21 points to nil at half-time. For South Auckland tries were scored by J. Sherran (2), O. Brook, L. Smith, Moyes, Samson and Williams. Brook converted two and kicked two penalty goals. For Auckland, It. Halsey, Rutherford and McWilliams scored tries, Clarke converting two and kicking a penalty goal.

GOLF COMPETITIONS Auckland. —Medal round: 11. P. Williams 85, 15—70; C. H. Knight, 78, 4—74; J. P. May, 80, 12—74; B. 11. Mcnzies, 76 I—7r. Akarana. —Second round of P. It. Bridgens tro|)hy: G. R. Cornes beat C. H. Herring, 5 and 4; C. C. Goldfinch beat H. Rose, 2 and 1; W. A. Birkenhead bent P. Lowes. 4 and 3; P. Quinn beat F. C. McSherry, 5 and 4. Semi-finals: Goldfinch (8-6) beat Cornes (20-15), 3 and 2; Quinn (4-3) beat Birkenhead (10-8), 3 and 1. Edwards trophy final, over 30 holes: H. P. Cullen (6-3) beat J. Frankham (14-11), 5 and 4. Cullen lias now won this trophy on four occasions. First round for Howey Walker trophies: G. N. Slight and A. W. Wyness beat L. W. Makin and J. Marshall, 7 and 0; G. R. Coraes and J. N. Bissett beat. P. Lowes and M. Walker, 0 and 4; K. A. Pickering and M. Kiely won from C. E. Pearson and J. S. Hedley by default; J. Stenberg and L. G. Crawshaw beat J. N. Johnson and T. Smith, at the 19th ; H. Avery and C. F. Paull won from J. Linton and F. C. McSherry by default; D. A. Burt and H. Rose beat W. J. Rogers and C. H. Herring, 1 up; W. A. Birkenhead and B. Smith beat J. Stewart and W. M. Boyle, 2 and 1. Four-ball bogey: G. N. Slight and P. Lowes. 6 up. Mixed four-ball: F Schisclika and Mrs Schischka 1 up. Titirangi.—Semi-finals of Taylor Bowl: A. G. Ryland beat A. Taylor. 5 and 3; M. Bush beat H. F. Schoen, 1 up. First round of veterans' handicap: F. Wiseman beat A. Service. 4 and 3; J. S. L. Stewart beat G. L. Taylor, 0 and 4 ; H. W. Cooke beat H, G. Thomson, 5 and 4; E. A. Tuke beat G M. White 6 and 5; .1. B. Johnston beat .1 M. Somerville, 7 and 6; C. P. Worley beat W J. A. Thomson, 2 and 1; F. C. Ewon beat J. C. Wilson, 4 and 3; F. A. Browne beat R. F. Ward. 2 up. The Stableford handicap was won by A. J. Roberts, 34. Maungakiekle.—Mixed four-ball best-ball bogey handicap: Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Elliffe, 2 up; L. McKay and Miss B. Smith, C. F. Rosser and Miss Haslett, 1 up; G. H. Philson and Miss A. Wallis. all square. North Shore.—Medal round: J. E. Waite, 07. 21 —7O; D. Freakes, 89, 11—78; L. Alderton. 00. 12—78; L. E. Joy, 04, 10—78; W. E. King, 93, 13—80. In the Philomel Cup, L. Alderton tied with D. Freakes with a net score of 147. Pupuke.—Fifth monthly medal competition: E. A. Carson, 83, 0—74; R. W. Rutherford, 87. 12 —75. Semi-final of captain's prize: E. A. Carson beat PI. Randrup, 3 and 2. Final of Bell Cup: S. Fergusson beat E. T. Browne. 3 and 2. Manukau.—Gross medal competition— Senior: B. Moore, 82 83; P. Marnle, 86, 81; ! B. Cooper, *6, 80. Intermediate: B. Morse, 88, 01; A. Nixon, 01, 07; D. Rawnsley, 80, 97. Junior: R. Crisp 02, 05: G. Rush, 102, 95. Tankard competition: B. Morse, 85. 13—72; D. Mamie, 84. 10—74. Otahuhu.—Second round of Otahuhu Plate: Senior: J. M. Clarke beat F. M. Andrews, 2 and 1; E. F. IJaggie beat J. C. Castle. 2 and 1 Junior: F. McKenzie won from S. M. Gleeson by default; L. J. Daley beat J. McAllum, 6 and 5; E. T. Haync beat C. A. Elder. 4 and 2; F. Rabone beat C. Skinner 1 up. Stableford: E. F. Haggle, 36; J. L. Clark. 0. C. Middleton, J. Eccles, 33. North Shore Ladies.—Medal match: Mrs. J. McComb, 110. 31—70; Miss B. Mitchell, 103, 22—81; Mrs. E. McKeclinie. 100, I' —B3. Final for Mr. H. G. Keane's trophy: Mrs. McKeclinie beat Miss A. Thomas, 1 up. Pupuke Ladies—Flag match: Mrs. Johnston carried the flag to the edge of the 38th green. Scores returned were: Mrs. Johnston, ■J? ' ~Z 7 U Miss N - Clark ' 101 « 10—82; Miss M. Sexton, 96 14—82.