Gold In Fiji.

Production on Viti and Vanua Levu.

THE high price of gold has stimulated the search for the precious metal in Fiji, and we hear that various parties, on the main Island of Viti Levu and elsewhere, have reported en couraging results. It is worthy of note, however, that gold is found in Fiji under conditions entirely different from those met with on Australian and New Guinea goldfields.

The Tavua enterprise is developing promisingly. The Hon. E. G. Theodore, late Federal Treasurer, who is inter ested in the mine, left for Fiji by the Aorangi in November, accompanied by a mining expert. Mr. Pat Costello, of Suva, who made a hurried visit to Syd ney during the month, informs us that surprisingly good values have been taken out of the Tavua mine already by the most primitive processes, and that there is likely to be excellent gold found. The Tavua gold is most inter esting, in a geological sense. It occurs in andesite country, under conditions which are found in very few places— notably, in the Andes region of South America, and in the famous Waihi dis trict of New Zealand.

It is likely that there will be a good deal of developmental work done at Tavua during the next two months and, if it is satisfactory, a company will be floated.

Good and profitable gold, in consid erable quantities, worth about £1,200

per month, is now being taken out of the Mount Kassi mine, in the south western corner of Vanua Levu. A 10stamp battery is now operating there, and a quantity of additional machinery left Sydney for the mine by a recent steamer. This gold occurs in barium — said to be a geological freak that is almost unknown. The Sydney assayers threw the stone away when it was first submitted to them.

Fortune seems to be smiling on Fiji. The sugar industry saved the Colony when the bottom fell out of all the other commodity markets; and now there is a substantial promise of gold.