N.G. Goldfield

Mining and Development

Through the courtesy of the Adminis trator of New Guinea, we shall be able, in future, to publish the monthly reports of the Warden of the Morobe goldfield {Mr. Harold Taylour). The Warden’s report supplies a valuable official sum mary, from month to month, of the pro gress and development of this important and rapidly growing part of New Guinea.

THE Warden of the Morobe goldfield, New Guinea, reported as follows for May, 1934:

Gold Export.

Bullion exported for the month approximately 16,644oz., valued at £92,219/9/- (Australian currency).

Wau-Edie Creek Road.

Mr. C. C. Judd was the successful tenderer for the construction of the new portion of the Wau- Edie Creek road. Construction will commence early in June, and it is expected that the road will be open for motor traffic within twelve months.

Salamaua-Wau Road.

Reconnaissance surveys for a road from Sala maua to Wau will commence early next month (June). Two survey parties, each under a licensed surveyor, have been transferred from mining tene ment surveys for this purpose.

Wewak Gold.

A sample of gold from the Wewak hinterland, forwarded to this office by the District Officer, Aitape, assayed as follows: — Fine gold, 858.2 parts per 1000; fine silver, 112.1 parts per 1000; impurities, 29.7 parts per 1000.

Timber Samples For Canada.

Some excellent samples of local timbers were collected at this office and forwarded to the Direc tor of Agriculture, Rabaul, for despatch to Canada for exhibition purposes. About 50 varieties of timber are represented in the collection. — Mine Managers’ reports are as follow:

Bulolo Gold Deposits Ltd.

Sluicing operations were confined to Flat Creek, or that portion of Flat Creek known as Graham’s and Smeaton’s Lease. Ten thousand cubic yards were sluiced, and the sluicing hours amounted to 220 daylight hours. During night hours the water was used in flushing out accumulated tailings in Flat Creek.

Timber clearing and burnng off was also under way.

Five white men and 78 natives were employed during the period.

Koranga Gold Sluicing Ltd.

One nozzle operated continuously on overburden and landslide, the other re-opening No. 1 face on which eleven shifts were worked on wash with satisfactory results. New cottages and engine shed have been erected. General health of Euro pean and native employees has been excellent. A further area of native foodstuffs has been planted.

Edie Creek Goldmining Company N.L.

Main Adit. —Owing to several falls in the main drive, progress in opening up has been delayed.

We have now cleaned up and re-timbered to a point 200 feet from the adit portal. Trucks are now operating on this level, and it is hoped will be cleaned up and re-timbered to the main face in the near future. We will forward plan of the main workings for your information during this month.

Plant.--The whole of the material for tanks of the cyanide plant is now at Edie Creek, and exca vations for same is 90 per cent, complete. Build ing of water dam for the plant is in progress.

Owing to temporary shortage of native labor, we cannot start on the erection of plant for approxi mately two weeks.

Day Dawn South (New Guinea) N.L.

No. 1 vein—130 foot level. —North drive has been advanced 38 feet in ore. Total, 208 feet.

No. 1 vein—200 foot level. —North drive has been advanced 21 feet in ore. Total, 196 feet. South drive has been advanced 15 feet in ore. Total, 75 feet. At 75 feet the drive met daylight.

No. 1 rise has been put up 46 feet in crushed slates. Total, 61 feet.

No. 1 winze has been started at the junction of North and South drives and sunk 12 feet in ore. Total, 12 feet.

New Guinea Goldfields Limited.

Edie Lode No. 1. No. 3 Level, West Drive, ex tended 161 feet to 776 feet.

Edie Lode No. 2, No. 3 Level. East Winze, sunk 40 feet to 81 feet.

No. 1 Level, No. 1 Rise, commenced and advanced

15 feet. Driving, 161 feet; winzing, 40 feet; rising, 15 feet; total, 216 feet.

New Guinea Alluvials Limited.

Operations temporarily suspended during May.

Day Dawn (New Guinea) Limited.

B. Level, 140 ft. level. —No. 8a rise has been put up 10ft. Total, 10ft. No. 1 level, 210 ft. level.— No. 8a rise has been put up 12ft. through to the “B” level. Total, 52ft. Main South Drive has been re-timbered for a distance of 32ft. Total, 52ft. Stope No. 2a rise north has been carried along in ore for a length of 30ft. at an average height of 26ft. above the floor of the level.

Intermediate Level, 270 ft. Level: Stope No. 6 —No 1 rise has Ijeen carried along in ore for a length of 25ft. at an average width of 3ft. 6in. to an average height of 52ft. above the floor of the level. Stope No. 2 North Rise South has been carried along in ore for a length of 25ft. at an average width of Sft. to an average height of 55ft. above the floor of the level. Stope No. 8a. — No. 9 rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 25ft. at an average width of Sft. to an average height of 41ft. above the floor of the level. Sub-level drive from No. 8a rise.—No. 9 rise has been put in a distance of 35ft. No. 2 level, 310 ft. level.

Main south drive has been advanced 55ft. Total, 175 ft.

North drive on the manganese lode has been advanced 25ft. Total, 55ft.

South drive on the manganese lode has been advanced 15ft. Total, 105 ft.

Milling.—In May, No. 1 mill ran 419 hours and crushed 789.75 tons of ore. No. 2 mill ran 406 hours, and crushed 766.75 tons—making a total running time of 825 hours, and tonnage crushed 1556.5 tons.

Ore Raised. —No. 1 level, 210 ft. level, 857.7 tons; intermediate level, 270 ft. level, 583.4 tons; No. 2 level, 310 ft. level, 115.4 tons; total. 1556.5 tons.

Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited.

Air Transportation.—Weather conditions were favorable for flying throughout the month, but owing to an accident to the UOU ’plane on the 1st May, the air freighting was carried on with one ’plane only, which transported approximately 292 short tons of cargo to Bulolo and Bulowat, besides 34 white and 51 native passengers. The G-31-UOU ’plane was seriously damaged as a result of the above-mentioned accident, which took place at Lae, so that it is expected to bring the company’s third G31 aircraft into operation early next month.

Dredging Operations.—No. 1, 2 and 3 dredges were operated continuously throughout the month, and recovered a total of 11,249 ounces of bullion from the 707,000 cubic yards dredged.

Dredge Construction. —The construction of No. 4 dredge was continued and it is expected to have this dredge in operation in the latter part of July.

Hydro-electric System (Bulolo). —The powerhouse was operated continuously throughout the month and supplied ample power for all requirements.

Baiune Power Project.—Fairly good progress was

made both on the race and powerhouse construetion, though the wet weather interfered with the work to some extent. The construction of the foundations and powerhouse building is progressing and it is expected to have the foundations ready for installing the machinery when it arrives.

General.—Buildings: Four more small buildings are being erected for families and the additional accommodation required for single men is being erected at Bulolo and Bulowat.

Drilling and testing was carried on with two “Keystone"’ power drills throughout the month on

the Bulolo leases. Hand-drilling and shafting is being continued on the Bulowat leases, Health. Generally speaking, the health of both white and native employees has been good. Ad mitted to hospital during the month: Europeans, 11; natives 46.

The company has a total of approximately 230 Europeans, and 850 natives in its employ as at the end May.

Placer Development Limited.

During the month, an examination was made of

the upper sections of the Wanton and Usuwa Rivers, and also the Wanton River flats near Onga village. In the upper reaches of the river the gravels were very limited in extent. The shafting, as far as proceeded with, in the big flats near Onga, did not reveal enough values to war rant continuing the examination.