Search For El Dorado In Papua Goes On.

Hundred Years of Successes and Disappointments.

From Our Papua Correspondent.

IT is now well over 100 years since gold in Papua first attracted the at tention of the outside world; and, within that time the search for its hid den wealth has been undiminished, in spite of the formidable obstacles that a new and hostile country must have offered to the earlier prospectors.

Though, since 1910 (when the Lake kamu field was abandoned) there has been no appreciable fields in the recent sporadic outbursts of prospecting, there are still hopes that there are other “Mombare’’ and “Yodda” fields, for the finding; and prospecting goes steadily on.

Isla del Oro, or Islands of Gold, was one of the first names bestowed upon New Guinea as a whole, in 1528, when Alvaro de Saavedro, a relation of the great Cortez, visited the Island, and since then, at different times, gold has been reported by various people. In 1852, the H.M.S. Rattlesnake reported gold found in pottery from Red Sea Bay. Also in 1875 the Rev. MacFarlane claimed to have found traces and a nugget on the Mai-Kussa. It was not until 1887 that the first systematic at tempts were made of prospecting, and then only near Port Moresby, on the Goldie and Brown Rivers, tributaries of the Laloki. The interest soon died, the prospects were of little account.

It was really not till 1888, when David Whyte (pearl sheller) reported gold on Joannet Island (Louisiade group) that the first serious efforts at mining took place. A party of miners joined Whyte and left Cooktown in the cutter Joanita, found and provisioned by Commissioner Douglas (Special Commissioner to British New Guinea).

Joannet Islands proved disappointing, and they proceeded to Sud Est (an is land of the same group), where they were more successful. Altogether 150 ounces were found in 12 months, and there followed a rush from Queensland, but in 12 months the field petered out and the miners became restless and dissatisfied.

Sir William MacGregor, then Admin istrator, fearing that “the miners would disperse all over the Possession with out authority or supervision” decided in October, 1888, to accompany a party of picked men from Sud Est to Rossel Island and to St. Aignan (Misima), to examine its possibilities, under Govern ment control. Colours of gold were found on Rossel Island at several places, but not sufficient to induce any of them to remain there. At Misima, it was more promising, gold being found in several gullies. As a result, miners flooded the island, 700 to 800 came over, but with very little success. Much sickness and many deaths, occurred, also the output steadily declined, and new fields were eagerly sought.

The mainland was the next objective, and in 1894 a party from Queensland landed in Bartle Bay, near Samarai (Eastern Division). There a few ounces were found. The natives, however, proved hostile and the leader of the

party (Hurley) was killed. The party disbanded, disheartened and worn out with fever and dysentery.

Still determined, 15 more miners in 1895, under Clarke, arrived. They tried Bartle Bay and failed. A few of the more adventurous stayed on and, with Clark, attempted the Mombare River.

Treachery and disaster met them.

Their party was attacked, Clark was killed, and all their supplies and pro visions stolen. Returning to the coast, they fell in with the Ivanhoe party, which had just arrived. They turned back with them and again tried their luck. This time 48 ozs. of gold were found in the creek beds and gullies, and later in the year a further 200 ozs.

The natives proved treacherous, five miners were murdered, also a Govern ment agent named Green. The days were full of stirring adventure. Matt Crow, Bob Elliott and the Pryke brothers were names that stood out in the history of those turbulent days, when dissatisfaction stirred the camps and the miners became rebellious. Mur der, dysentery and fever attended their efforts and followed in their wake.

In 1897, more gold was discovered on the Gira. Still more miners poured into the country and did well; at Murua (Woodlark Island) the prospects also proved favourable, and 400 miners landed in a few months from Cooktown.

Early in the same year (1897), the old Laloki interest revived and actually 400 miners landed in Port Moresby to try their luck, but met with little suc cess and many deaths.

In the meantime, from the Gira the prospecting extended to the Yodda in 1900. Some 90 men had established themselves there in the valleys and creeks and in 1901 the field was pro claimed.

Gold mining in Papua now reached its peak. Further gold was found on the Keveri, behind Cloudy Bay, in 1902, and three crushing mills were estab lished at Kulumadau (Woodlark). With the Mombare, Gira and Yodda fields added to these, it must have been a period in the history of Papua, which may never again be equalled.

In 1909 Matt Crow and the Pryke brothers left the Yodda. They sought newer fields and they discovered gold on the Lakekamu, west of Port Moresby in the Gulf Division. In no time, 228 miners were on the field, but it was all over by 1910; though the prospects were good and several miners were suc cessful. Dysentery and malaria played havoc, apart from the hostility of the natives and the heavy expenditure of transport. Recruiting was later for bidden and the field was killed.

The Tauri and Tiveri, the fields of to-day, are in the district of the old Lakekamu. It was re-opened in 1930 on the report of gold by Patrol Officer Hides, who, when on patrol, found traces in creeks of that district. The report re-awakened the interest in min ing in the territory, and parties left immediately. There were wild rumours and, though the anticipations so far have not been realised, the prospectors hold out every hope of success, and parties are still at work on the head waters of both rivers in the district.

Approximately £2,000,000 worth of gold has been won in Papua up to the present time, but it represents the re sult of 50 years of work and has cost a deplorable number of lives.