Tinai Valley

Hopes For Rich Gold

THERE have been interesting developments lately in connection with Tinai Valley gold prospects. Tinai Valley is a high plateau in the far interior of Cen tral Papua, close up under Mount Chap man, and very close to the New Guinea- Papua border.

A long time ago, it is reported, rich gold was discovered there, but the natives were so hostile and the place so isolated and inhospitable that it was only re cently that steps were taken to prove and develop the prospects.

A few months ago, as already reported in this journal, a company was formed to investigate Tinai Valley; and a party was despatched from Sydney in October, with instructions that they were to spend a month on the field, and then, unless prospects definitely justified a further stay, they were to return to civilisation.

Up to the middle of December, they had not been heard of, although more than a month had elapsed, and it was then as sumed that they were “on gold,” and were remaining. An aeroplane landing ground has been established within a compara tively short distance of Tinai Valley, and, if there is good gold there, the place can be worked by aeroplanes.

Meanwhile, there was an interesting development. Somehow or other, the word got around that the Tinai Valley gold is rich and that it is doubtful whether the Valley is in Papua or New Guinea, Consequently, a little syndicate was formed to take the necessary steps to peg the ground and register in New Guinea, irrespective of whether registra tion had been already effected in Papua.

The authorities got wind of the scheme, however, and acted promptly, with the result that it has been announced that, until the boundary line has been exactly fixed, the first registration of Tinai Val ley shall be effective legally, whether made in New Guinea or Papua.