Dredge Plans In Papua

From Our Own Correspondent, ,

Pt. Moresby, Feb. 27.

SIX applications for gold dredging leases were lodged with tfie Warden in Port Moresby early in February for an area totalling 1,530 acres on Fish Creek, in the Lakekamu goldfield.

The area applied for covers 11½ miles along the rivers. The applications were made by Messrs. C. F. Duchatel, F. W.

Clark, A, E. Bethune, and V. P. Hides — all well-known men in the Territory.

The Lakekamu lately has been attract ing attention. In 1931, the Papuan Go vernment engaged Mr. B. Dunstan, the Government geologist from Queensland, to report on the field when it was re opened in 1930, and he reported that, apart from quite a number of gold-bearing reefs, large and small gold existed all over the watershed, and small leaders, some of which yielding quite rich prospects, shed gold on the creeks in the district. On his way up to the field he also noticed large areas of old conglomerate which he thought would be worth investigating, and he considered that the lower flats of the Tiveri were likely to produce a consider able amount of gold by dredging methods.

The Tiveri Gold Dredging Co., a new company floated in March, 1933, has started operations this year, and is situ ated not far from the newly acquired areas.

Payable gold was first discovered on the Lakekamu in June, 1909, when the well known miners, Mah Crow and F, and J.

Pryke made a prospecting trip across country from the Yodda fields in search of new fields.