Goldfields’ News

Reduction of Air Transport Rates.

From Our Own Correspondent WAU. N.G., January 26.

A bombshell was dropped on Wednesday last when Pacific Aerial Transport Ltd. announced that freights would in future be 5d. per lb.; and many wondered what form Guinea Airways’ reply would take. On Thurs day, this company advertised that a new com pany had been formed, to be known as Pacific Trading Co. Ltd., and that it would have stores at Salamaua and Wau. Rice ‘is adver tised at £40 per short ton, which is £10 per short ton less than the freight per ton ruling up till that date. Allowing 1½d. per lb. as landed cost of rice at the beach, Guinea Air ways freight therefore works out at 3¼d. per lb.

It is not expected that the private citizen or Government servant will be able to take advantage of this rate, as it is presumed that these quotations are made for ton lots only.

However, to the miners and companies on the field it will be of very great assistance, in re ducing the terrific costs of the past. Trade meats, tobacco, flour, sugar and other items are to be sold at similarly reduced rates.

The great advances made by the air trans port companies are to be seen in the reduction from 1/- per lb. freight, of some 12 or 18 months ago, to the present rate; and the ques tion is now being asked, can the small aviation companies carry on against the big ger company’s opposition, or will they have to give way and leave the field open, and allow freights to rise again?

Aeroplane Accident.

Large stones have recently started to show above the ground on the Wau aerodrome, and on January 16 Pilot O’Dea, in Les Holden’s “Waco,” had the misfortune to hit one with his tail skid, with the result that the tail portion of the ’plane was considerably dam aged. Since that date the District Officer has been busy with a line of boys removing stones from the ’drome.

More Gold Production.

The greatly enhanced price of gold, and the added premium, together with the threat of the closing down of tributes by New Guinea Gold fields Ltd., has spurred up the production of gold during the last six months, and it is understood that figures for the first six months of this financial year are greatly in excess of figures for the whole of last year.

The Administration has at last given per mission for three shifts to be worked by nat ives employed in alluvial mining and, while it is expected that only the employers of large numbers of natives will be able to take advan tage of the night-shift, production should increase considerably.

Wireless Station.

The wireless station has been removed from Edie Creek to Wau, and is now operating there. As practically the whole of the Edie Creek Area is held by New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., whose head office is at Wau, it was felt that the business offering would not justify the retention of the station at Edie Creek.

Mr. C. Beckett, who has been in charge of the station at Edie Creek for some years, will continue to operate at Wau.

A Fatal Date.

It was rumoured in Wau on Wednesday last the Mr. Charles Graham, who has been mining at Poverty Creek and Bitoi River, in partnership with Mr. Andy Smeaton, had died at Trists Lake, about three and a half days’ walk from Wau. The District Officer immediately despatched Mr. R. Foulkes, medi cal assistant, with Mr. Smeaton and patrol to enquire into the rumour.

News has also arrived that Mr. Godfrey Bond, who brought an all-metal Junker ’plane to this field about two years ago, and which he later sold to P.A.T., has disappeared in Europe whilst on his way to England. The death or disappearance of three Wau citizens —Mr. Levien, Mr. Graham and Mr. Bond—in different parts of the world in one day has caused quite a sensation among the few resi dents here.