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[Page 32]
New Britain's most direct communications are by way of mail steamer (N.D.L.) to Manila; and by cable through Uap in the N.W. of the Carolines and via Manila. Admiralty Chart No,3180 of 9.6.86 of the N.E.Coast of New Guinea, and also Admiralty Chart No980 may be consulted.
(7) Thus far I had conducted this inquiry personally. But from an incidental remark Capt. Barraclough of this command I judged it expedient to communicate to him the facts fo the inquiry. He reports to me as follows:-
"I have recently interviewed Mr. Norman Selfe (a personal friend of mine) who is a leading consulting engineer in Sydney and who designed the new wharf &c. at Simpsonshafen for the N.D.L. He is quite willing that I should take any information I desire from his plans and working drawings, I will take an early opportunity of examining them. I did not find it necessary to tell him in what connection I desired the information."
"Possibly useful information about New Guinea might be obtained from (a) Major Alexander R. of O., who is a leading officer in Burns Philp H Co., and (b) Mr. Thomas Pratt of Pratt and Pratt, Actuaries Pitt Street, Financial Agent for New Guinea and the South Seas of the London Missionary Society. Mr. Pratt is now in general charge of the Mission Steamer "John Williams". He is a connection of mine by marriage". (Signed) S. Henry Barraclough, Capt.A.I.C.
(8) Attached is a cutting from the "Australian Star" of 23.3.09 quoting a report prepared for the paper by a special correspondent whom the Star specially commissioned to visit Simpsonshafen for the purpose of making an investigation of the situation. The report is a useful commentary on Mr. Lucas' letter. In general it discounts the rumours as to preparations for fortifying the place. This correspondent is obviously a resident in the vicinity of New Britain, and if it be judged to be of any value an endeavour will be made to ascertain his identity.
J. T. Wilson
Major,
Comg. A.I.C.,N.S.W. District
Sydney
3.5.09