Collins, B. W. (Burton Wallace), 1916-

Burton Wallace Collins, 1916-1977, was in the area around Madang in 1937 - 1938, for 18 months, working as a geologist for the Island Exploration Company. He was based at Madang, and at the company's headquarters at Atemble. He went on numerous expeditions in the surrounding country. While in New Guinea, Collins kept a journal of his experiences, his work, and his social life, which he sent back for his family in New Zealand to read. There were eight small notebooks completed in the 18 months Collins spent in New Guinea. He was particular about recording the names of people, the names of villages, and their distances and heights, animals and birds he saw, and details of company life in Madang. He visited several missions, and describes the 'Fathers'. He also compiled a photograph album, using his own photos and those of his colleagues. Notes by Jill Goodwin.