Subsidy

Encouraging Gold Seekers Papuan Government Offers Subsidy

From Our Own Correspondent Port Moresby, January 7.

GOLD mining lately has been regarded as a little more prosperous.

Good reports have been received from Misima and Woodlark Islands and it is considering that now a combined effort should be made by everyone in general to send organised parties to search for gold.

The Government has offered gold seekers £ for £ subsidy on expenditure up to a payment of £250, and already a party has been formed and is going out to the Tauri River on those conditions.

The general public, on the whole, are rather doubtful of success awaiting gold prospectors, for enthusiasm has been somewhat damped of late by the conflicting reports that have been coming in.

But the economic position in the Territory would be so relieved if gold were discovered that every find is worth considering and exploiting to the utmost, especially now that the Government has offered such excellent terms.

The non-indigenous population of New Hebrides is, on the last official report, 6,296, comprising 797 French, 369 British, 56 Asiatics and 5,396 Tonkinese and 30 Javanese labourers. The estimated native population is 60,000, evenly distributed throughout the group. ———