New Gold Dredge For Papua.

May Solve Problems of Transport and Motive Power.

THE despatch to Papua of a small

dredge by the November “Mac

dhui” has unusual interest for two

reasons. It represents an interesting

development of engineering; and it

quite possibly may open a new era

in the history of Papua.

PAPUA, so far, has not received much benefit from the recent re vival of the gold industry. Nearly all the worth-while gold found in the Pacific Islands in the last few years has come from the New Guinea main land, on the side of the main range opposite to Papua. Yet there must be large quantities o.f gold in Papua, on the southern side of the central ranges.

It was found and worked in payable quantities in Papua before the dawn of the present century—and it can be found again.

Papua, like New Guinea, is at the present time being carefully searched by gold prospectors. Over a year ago, a party made interesting discoveries on the upper waters of the Lakekamu River which enters the Gulf of Papua 100 miles to the westward of Port Moresby. As a result of that, there was formed the Tiveri Gold Dredging Company Limited, the directors of which are Messrs. T. L. Sefton, planter of Port Moresby; A. L. Clarke, Sydney; and J. W. Hinks, Sydney. This com pany displayed a most commendable spirit of enterprise and, receiving the good-will and co-operation of the Administration, decided to undertake an interesting experiment in the recovery of gold by dredging.

To Mr. Hinks was entrusted the work of providing a dredge of a kind never before seen south of the equator —a dredge that could be transported by native carriers into otherwise in accessible country. Mr. Hinks took his problem to Messrs. Poole and Steel Ltd., of Balmain, Sydney, who have been making all kinds of dredges for over 30 years. He received the full co operation of the experienced firm, and Messrs. Poole and Steel Ltd., eventually designed for Mr. Hinks a small dredge, of which no part exceeded 5 cwt. in dead-weight.

This was an extraordinarily diffi cult task, as will be obvious to any engineer or draughtsman; but eventually the plans were approved and the work of construction commenced in July last. By the first week in November the job was complete, and the dredge was assembled and tested in Messrs. Poole & Steel’s yards.

Its appearance was impressive.

Small, compact and suggestive of rugged strength, it appeared quite capable of solving the transport diffi culty and of carrying out its work deep in the Papuan jungle. The size of each bucket is 1½ cubic feet, as compared with 10 cubic feet on the Bulolo dredges, and 21 cubic feet on the biggest dredge made in Australia. It is calculated that the dredge, working three shifts (600 hours per month), could move 20,000 cubic yards per

month. The machine dredges to 15 feet below the water line and in an emergency can go down to 21 feet. It is, generally speaking, as the photo graph shows, an orthodox type of dredge, but everything has been scaled down to transport requirements.

It is in the engine-power that a most interesting feature is developed. There are two petrol engines installed, capable of developing, together, from 80 to 100 horse-power; but the engines have been most ingeniously adapted to use suction gas (from charcoal) as an alternative to petrol. The same problem—transport—(faced the Com pany in connection with engine fuel; so it was decided to try another method of generating power.

A small plant has been carefully de signed and constructed by which it is calculated that 12 cwt. of wood per shift, turned into charcoal, and then used to provide suction gas, will keep the engines going. Another calculation shows that the designers estimate that they can get one brake-horse-power per hour from 1 1/8 lbs. of charcoal. If this system can be operated—and the most careful tests undertaken show that it can —the Company will be able to operate its dredge from the material available in the adjoining jungle —a most important consideration. The engines, of course, can be run on petrol If and when required. The dredge can be operated in normal cir cumstances with one engine—but both are available for heavy loads.

Ingenious designing has provided on the deck of the dredge a power-driven lifting winch, a headline winch and 4 sideline winches. An interesting feature is a slot in the floor of the sluice-box. This is opened as required.

When it is open the spoil from the sluice-box is led back along another channel into a box on the deck of the dredge. Thence it is taken into a specially constructed Berdan pan, where it is subjected to special treat ment.

After satisfactory tests the dredge was dismantled and prepared for transport to Port Moresby aboard the “Macdhui.” Everything was so arranged that no part exceeded 5 cwt., and by far the greater portion of the equipment was in pieces weigh ing much less. Mr. A. L. Clarke left on the “Macdhui” to take charge of the transport.

From Port Moresby, the dredge will be taken by coastal steamer 100 miles to Kupiki, .at the mouth of the Lake kamu River. Thence it will be taken by the Company’s own launch some 40 miles up the river to the Olipai landing. From that point it will be transported some 10 miles by native carriers, over flat jungle country, to a land-locked creek, where the Company has secured 15 miles of leases. It is soft non-stony country, where a light bucket-dredge can operate without difficulty. Two parties have been engaged on this creek for the last four months, putting down a number of bores and carefully planning out the

country for the dredge’s future operations.

It is calculated that the work of transport will be completed by the be ginning of January, when the dredge will be on the ground for erection. Mr.

Hinks will arrive at the Lakekamu early in January to supervise erection and it is hoped that the dredge will commence digging early in February.

Mr. Brewster has built in Port Moresby a new launch, 28 feet long, for the use of the Company on the Lakekamu River. This was recently fitted with engines and is already at the Lakekamu, awaiting the arrival of the dredging equipment.

The Tiveri G.D. Co. Ltd. is regis tered in Port Moresby with a capital of £15,000. The Sefton syndicate, who explored and developed the proposi tion, has received 6,500 shares; Mr.

Hinks, who provided the dredge, has received 5,000 shares; and the public has subscribed for 3,500 shares, called up to 15/-. The Papuan Administration, with commendable foresight, has allowed this equipment to enter the Territory free of duty.

Everyone interested in the future of Papua will hope that Messrs. Sefton, Clarke and Hinks will have complete success and will reap the reward to which their initiative and enterprise entitle them. They appear to have solved some of the serious difficulties which confronted them, connected with both transport and engineering, and which hitherto have handicapped the development of the gold industry in Papua. There is no doubt that if their pioneering work is successful there will be interesting developments in the Territory in the early future, and we may witness what may be called “the era of the light dredge.”