New Era Is Opened In New

Guinea.

History was made in New Guinea on March 21, when the first of the Bulolo Company’s big dredges was set in motion by the Administrator (General Wisdom). Within a few days, the dredge was winning rich gold.

A notable feature is that the whole of this heavy machinery was trans

ported to the field by aeroplane.

THE opening of the No. 1 Bulolo dredge, in New Guinea, an event second only in importance to the finding of the Morobe goldfields, took place on March 21. A large number of residents of the goldfields accepted the general invitation of Placer De velopment, Ltd., and Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., to attend the function.

His Honour, the Administrator, Brig.-Gen. E. A. Wisdom, who had ar rived at Salamaua on March 10, and since then had been inspecting the goldfields, was present at Bulolo, to perform the official opening.

Mr. C. A. Banks, managing director of both Placer and Bulolo, formerly welcomed the Administrator.

“I think,” said Mr. Banks, “we are exceedingly fortunate in having General Wisdom with us to-day, to open this dredge and start it on what we believe, and what I think he hopes, is going to be a long and successful life.

“Before asking His Honour to open the dredge, and my wife to christen it, I would like to say a few words,” continued Mr. Banks.

“I very much regret that Mr. W. A.

Freteman, president of our company is not with us here to-day, as he was initially responsible for the starting of this enterprise in New Guinea. I also regret that our co-director, Mr. Griffin, who is responsible for the designing of this dredge and who has played such an active part in the whole under taking, is unwell, and, therefore, unable to be on the dredge this morning. We are all pleased, however, that he is able to watch these proceedings from the office verandah.

“General Wisdom has just handed me a wire from Mr. Freeman to himself, which reads as follows: Please convey to General Manager and all staff appreciation and congratulations of all shareholders, and inform that Mr. Agnew, of the Consolidated Goldfields, of South Africa,

advises that all full of admiration of manner in which everything handled from start.

Warmest regards to self, and most pleased that are present and doing the kick off .

Freeman.

“Four and a half miles up the stream from here,” said Mr. Banks, “there has been erected a hydro-electric plant of 3,000 horse power for supplying this and three other dredges, which are now in the course of erection, with electric power,

Mining World Intensely

Interested.

“The building of this dredge and its transportation involved some en gineering difficulties, the solving of

which, I might say, has been watched with intense interest throughout the mining and aviation world.

“It is hardly 12 months ago since the first of our large aeroplanes, “Peter” and “Paul”, landed on the ’drome with the first load of heavy material for this dredge. That so much has been done since, I think, speaks volumes for the ability and energy of our general manager, Mr. Harris, and his whole staff, including Guinea Air ways, and for the wholehearted co operation of every employee of our company.

“On behalf of Mr. Freeman, Mr.

Griffin, Mr. Waterhouse, and, in fact, of all the directors, I would like to say how much we appreciate the as sistance and co-operation which we have received from the Administra tion of the Territory of New Guinea from the commencement and also the goodwill which has been extended to us on all sides by the people generally in the Territory.

“We have endeavoured to recipro cate this latter, and we trust and feel that these satisfactory relations will continue throughout the life of our operations, which, we believe, will continue from fifteen to twenty years.”

Mr. Banks then called on General Wisdom to open the dredge.

The Administrator.

At the outset, the Administrator thanked the directors of the company for giving him the honour of starting the dredge.

“When one thinks what this place was like only two or three years ago,” said the Administrator, “one is as tounded at the changes that have taken place, brought about by the genius and capacity of the engineers and others, who have been responsible for the con summation of the first stage of this great enterprise.

“It has been said that the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a great bene factor to humanity. What are we to say about those who produce thousands and millions of ounces of gold out of the ground where none was produced before?

“To go a little back,” he continued, “I think it is only a matter of four

Photograph of new dredge, ready to commence operations.

Mr. W. A. Freeman,

President of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.

years ago, that attention was drawn to this country. At that time, a man named Clarke, commonly known as “Hobby,” came here and prepared to peg out the ground. He was followed by Barton and party, who whole heartedly condemned it.

“By some fortunate circumstance, Messrs. Banks and Griffin had their at tention drawn to the ground, and then the whole aspect of things changed. It would seem as if some great wizard had waved his wand, and said, “Let there be gold,” and there was gold; “Let there be aeroplanes,” and there were aeroplanes; “Let there be a dredge,” and there is a dredge; and, what pleases me most, was that he said, “Let there be a happy team working,” and behold, there is one, “Now, to me, the thing is like some thing out of a fairy tale. Only two years ago, I flew over this country, and there was nothing here but jungle, rivers, and swamps and hills, and to day I cannot help but marvel on the change that has been brought about by the engineering genius of those who have been responsible for this enter prise. As you can see, the difficulties were stupendous. These engineers came here, and they appreciated the difficulties; they saw the problem they had to solve, and by their genius, or ganisation, and capacity, they solved it up to schedule time. Which is one of the most marvellous features of the whole enterprise.

Guinea Airways’ Enterprise.

"We must give some credit for the solving of that problem to the Guinea Airways. But for them, their boldness and enterprise, I think Mr. Banks will himself admit that it would have been impossible to have reached this stage within the time. They have made a

lecord —a world's record. The record of Guinea Airways is a stupendous example of air carriage. Nowhere else in the world has anything approaching this been done, or the work that they have done, been done. It is undoubtedly a record for the company to have placed this dredge in the middle of the mountains of New Guinea without a road, without a railway another record.

“I hope, and I feel sure, that both Guinea Airways and this company are going - on from record to record, and there may be ulterior motives in the wish that there be a record gold pro duction. For the Territory, this is a most extraordinarily important event.

It has opened an entirely new era for the Territory and, I feel sure, will open a road to greater progress and great prosperity. I want you to ap preciate that it is a matter of great satisfaction to me to be here to-day, to start the first dredge of this great en terprise, not only for the sake of the company, but for the sake of the Territory.

A Subject For Text Books.

“To everyone concerned, I extend my hearty congratulations. It must be a proud and satisfactory moment for all of you. As Mr. Banks has indicated, the world is interested, and, I feel sure, the subject will be one for inclusion in the text books all over the world.

This enterprise has lighted a torch which will light and make easier the road for future isolated enterprises.

“Mr. Banks has also kindly referred to the attitude of the Administration with regard to this enterprise. What else but a helpful attitude could any sane administration take? I assure Mr.

Banks and others that the Administra tion will always be out to encourage

Arrival of the Administrator (General Wisdom) at Lae, on March 14, en route to the Morobe Goldfield. Left to right; Mr. E. A. Feldt (district officer), Mr. C. V, T. Wells (chairman of Guinea Airways Ltd.), General Wisdom (Administrator), Major A, S. Cross (managing director, Guinea Airways Ltd.), Mr. P. Holmes (Stecretary for Lands). The party flew to Wau in the machine shown in the background. —Photo, by H. Hotz.

The new dredge, decorated with bunting, in readiness for the Opening Ceremony. The flags of Great Britain, the United States and Australia are placed, symbolically, on the three flagpoles in the front.

any enterprise of this description to the utmost.

“I cannot close without reference to the late Mr. Levien. Every one of you, I am sure, will regret very deeply that he did not live to see the consummation of the first stage of an enterprise for which he was in a large measure, re sponsible.”

General Wisdom called on Mrs.

Banks to christen the dredge. This she did, amidst cheers, by breaking a bottle of champagne over the bucket line, saying, “I wish you long life and suc cess, and christen you ‘Good Fella dredge Bulolo Number One’.”

His Honour then started up the dredge, and it carried on work through out the day.

After the function, a buffet luncheon was provided to the assembled guests by the Bulolo Company. The iced beer served was particularly appreciated, as the day was very hot,

Assembly Of Big ’Planes.

In view of the great part aerial transport had played in the consum mation of the Bulolo Company’s plans, it was fitting that practically all the ’planes on the goldfield were on the

Bulolo ’drome at the time of the opening. The Bulolo Co.’s two 3-engine Junkers, G.A.’s 3-engine Junker and three single-engine Junkers, P.A.T.’s Junker and Moth, and Capt. Holden’s “Canberra’ and “Waco’’ were there, in all worth about £130,000.

Details Of The Company.

In the prospectus of Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., issued two years ago, it was estimated that the first dredge would be operating within 21 months from the flotation of the company, and the second dredge six months later.

The certificate of the registrar of com panies, Vancouver, British Columbia,

where the company is registered, en titling the company to commence busi ness, was issued on June 11, 1930. This made the estimated date of starting on the first dredge March 11, 1932. The actual date was March 21, but 10 days late. The company states that the cost has proved to be within the original estimate, that nearly the whole of the material for the second dredge is on the ground, and that it appears likely that that dredge also will begin working at about its estimated date.

With the issue to Placer Develop ment, Ltd., its parent company, of 200,000 additional shares as payment for the Bulowat area adjoining, the capital of the Bulolo Company will be 965,000 shares of 5 Canadian dollars each. The bulk of the Placer Development shares are held in Australia, and a large number of the Bulolo shares are Aus tralian-held. In the Bulolo property, containing 40,000,000 cubic yards of dredging material, and the Bulowat property, containing 60,000,000 cubic yards, it is claimed that there is a gold content equal to more than £8,000,000 sterling at the old par of exchange.

When fully equipped, the company will operate four dredges of the most modern type.

Where the dredge is operating, on the Bulolo flats, in a clearing in the jungle among the ranges. The aerodrome is in the centre of the picture, and the dredge is at one end of the group of buildings beyond the aerodrome.