Fiji Gold.

Search in Very Broken Country.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Suva, Aug. 8.

THE recent shipment of 143 ounces of fine gold, from the Mount Kasi mine, in the Yanawai district of Vanua Levu, has directed attention the gold possibilities of Fiji.

For many years it has been known that gold could be found in Vanua Levu, in the country to the west of Savusavu. It is very difficult country, and cut off from regular communica tion. In a number of the creeks it has been possible to wash a dish and get colours of gold, and these colours have led to much prospecting. Many syn dicates have been formed and much money lost.

In recent years, the attempt which seemed to be most favoured by for tune was that of Ernest Creswell, who was then manager of the Grand Pacific Hotel. At great labour, a 6-head battery was erected near the Yanawai River, Savusavu district, and a quan tity of slimes brought to Suva to be retorted. The result was a lump of what was described by those in terested in the venture as superfine gold. It was sent away to a Sydney bank for assay.

However, the prospectors had been somewhat too optimistic in scraping the tables to remove the gold, and in this instance, at any rate, “all was not gold that glittered”, for the Sydney bank reported that the lump was brass.

In the last couple of years a small local syndicate, headed by Mr. A. O.

Mackenzie, the manager in Fiji of Burns, Philp & Co., has been working in the Yanawai district. Messrs. Collie and Cameron are in charge of the field activities, and they are employing about 10 Europeans and 20 Fijians at Mount Kasi. The development work has been very difficult, as the site of the mine is about 1300 feet above sea level. Apparently, the syndicate has ample financial backing and is quite content to find the money itself for all development work. Rumour has it that a very considerable sum has been spent.