Mining Wardens

Report

Progress on Morobe Goldfields

THE official summary of the progress and development made in June, 1934, on the Morobe goldfields, New Guinea, compiled by the Min ing Warden (Mr. H. Taylour) is as follows:

Gold Export

Bullion exported for the month amounted to approximately 25,580ozs. valued at £147,617 (Australian currency). The gold production from the Morobe goldfields for the twelve months ended June 30, 1934, amounted to 257,038ozs. approximately, valued at £A1,365,225.

Wau-Edie Creek Road.

Work on the construction of the new portion of this road was commenced early in the month.

Three Europeans and 230 natives are engaged on the work, and by the end of the month excellent progress had been made.

Salamaua-Wau Road.

Two survey parties, each under a licensed sur veyor, commenced preliminary surveys for the construction of this road.

Wau-Bulolo Road.

The survey for the construction of the final section of this road was completed during the month. It is anticipated that this road will be finished during the next twelve months. Forty miles of continuous road will then be available between Edie Creek Post Office and the Baiune Creek power station.

Sunshine Gold Ltd.

Gold Foil and Adjoining Leases.—Clearing and planting of gardens was under way, also the select ing of suitable timbers for piles for houses.

Timber Mill Site, Reedy Creek.—Several water race grade lines were surveyed, to ascertain if power was available, for driving a sawmill.

Undaunted Lease.—The contractors, Messrs. Roy Hyde and M. McNaughton, were engaged cutting the water race from the Bulolo River, and prepar ing timbers for high fluming. A quantity of sluic ing plant was transported on to this lease, from the Bulolo ’drome.

Bulolo Gold Deposits.

The 22in. diameter was relaid, and all the com pany’s 18in. diameter pipes connected up to same.

This pipe line is being extended northerly along Flat Creek by connecting up all the remaining 11in. and 9in. diameter pipes. The extension of the smaller diameter pipes, proceeds as the sluicing faces advance, in a northerly direction. Sluicing was also under way during the period, also the clearing and burning off of timber.

The staff comprised five whites and seventy six natives.

Koranga Gold Sluicing.

One nozzle operated continuously on landslide, and another at No. 1 face with satisfactory results.

Very little yardage was put through owing to terrific quantity of boulders.

The construction of tail race from Bulolo to Bring in fall is proceeding satisfactorily.

Health of European and native employees has been excellent. A further area of native field fruits has been planted.

Bulolo Gold Dredging.

Air Transportation.—A total of 244 tons of freight was delivered at Bulolo and Bulowat aero dromes during the month, and 34 white and 106 native passengers. The company’s No. 3 ’plane —URQ —was brought into operation on June 11 and has been operating satisfactorily since that date.

Dredge Operation.—Nos. 1,2, and 3 dredges were operated continuously throughout the month, and recovered a total of 14,106 ounces from the 688,700 cubic yards dredged.

Baiune Power Project.—The construction of the race is progressing well with power shovel, bull dozer, scoop, and a good force of native labour.

The main power station building was completed during the month, and work has Been started on the switch-house. The machinery is now arriving and installation will shortly be commenced.

Placer Arnolds.—lt is expected to complete the installation of the hydraulic plant in the fore part of July, and the plant should be in operation before the middle of the month.

Work proceeded on the erection of additional housing accommodation required at Bulolo and Bulowat.

The two “Keystone” power drills were operated continuously throughout the month at Bulolo and two hand drills were operated at Bulowat.

The Medical Officer reports that the health of the community has been good throughout the month. A few cases of dysentry occurred amongst the natives, and the usual seasonal epidemic of influenza colds amongst the whites.

The Company had totals of approximately 250 Europeans and 870 Natives in its employ at the end of June.

Day Dawn South (N. G.), N.L.

No. 1 Vein —130 foot level.—North Drive has been advanced 33 feet in ore. Total 241 feet.

No. 1 Vein—2oo foot level.—North Drive has been advanced 20 feet in ore. Total, 216 feet.

No. 1 Rise has been put up 14 feet in crushed slates and hold through to No. 1 Winze from 130 foot level. Total, 75 feet.

No. 1 Winze has been sunk 18 feet in ore.

Total, 30 feet.

Preparation for lower adit.—No. 1 Vein has been cut with a series of costeens along the strike of lode for a distance of 350 feet further south than

the adit at 200 foot level, and about 100 feet lower in depth, and it would appear that a satis factory position for a lower adit will be obtained at about 250 feet along the strike of lode from the mouth of adit at 200 foot level.

Day Dawn (New Guinea) Ltd.

B. LEVEL—140ft. level.—No. 8a Rise has been put up 24ft. Total, 34ft.

No. 1 Level —210 ft LEVEL.—Stope No. 2a Rise North has been carried along in ore for a length of 30ft. at an average width of 4ft. 6in. to an average height of 54ft. above the floor of the level.

Rise at 60ft. Portal has been put up 15ft. to the surface. Total, 30ft.

Intermediate Level)—

Stope No. 82 —No. 9 Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 30ft. at an average width of sft. to an average height of 52ft. above the floor of the level.

Stope No. 8a 9 No. 8 Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 35ft. at an average width of 4ft. 3in. to an average height of 43ft. above the floor of the level.

Stope No. 1 Rise North has been commenced and carried along in ore for a length of 27ft. at an average width of 4ft. 6in. to an average height of 16ft. above the floor of the level.

Stope No. 2 Rise North has been commenced and carried along in ore for a length of 16ft. at an average width of 4ft. to an average height of 16ft. above the floor of the level.

Rise from Stope No. 2 North Rise South has been put up 15ft. through to the No. 1 level.

No. 2 LEVEL (310 FT. LEVEL).—Main South Drive has been advanced 40ft. Total, 215 ft. Winze in North Manganese Drive has been commenced and put down 9ft. Total, 9ft. North Drive on Manganese Lode has been advanced 30ft. Total, 85ft MILLING.—For the month of June, No. 1 Mill ran 370 hours and crushed 715.25 tons of ore.

No. 2 Mill ran 338 hours and crushed 629 tons making a total of 708 hours running time, and total tonnage crushed 1,344.25 tons.

N. Guinea Goldfields Ltd.

EDIE LODE No. I.—No. 3 Level, West Drive was advanced 16 feet to a total of 792, and stopped.

No. 3 Level, North Crosscut at 790 ft. (from above heading) commenced and advanced to 102 feet from centre of drive.

No. 3 Level, South Crosscut at 709 ft. (from West Drive) commenced and advanced to 60 feet from centre of drive.

No. 3 Level, West Drive from North Crosscut at 790 feet commenced and advanced to 3 feet irom centre of crosscut.

EDIE LODE No. 2.—No. 3 Level East Winze, sunk a further 3 feet, to 84 feet, where opera tions were temporarily suspended owing to the amount of water making.

No. 4 Shaft was unwatered and sinking re

sumed. Progress 6 feet, to a total depth of 418 feet.

Rising, for the blocking out of ore preparatory to stopping, was commenced, and a total of 137 feet of rises were put in.

Summary of Footages.

N. 1 Level Intermediate Level ..

No. 2 Level Surface .. 210ft. Level —431.85 tons .. 270ft. Level—678.00 „ Total .. .. .. .. 1344.25 „

Driving Crosscussing 162 „ Winzing Rising .. 137 „ Shaft Sinking Total ” 327 ft.