Wau-Edie Creek
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Another New Development Promised
AS a result of exploration activities by British and New Guinea Gold, N.L., an interesting development is possible on the New Guinea goldfield, not far from Wau.
British and New Guinea Gold N.L. was formed in Melbourne last year with a capital of £5,000 —£4,000 subscribed in cash and £1,000 allotted in shares for exploration and administration. Mr. Charles Lexius Burlington, as managing director, proceeded to New Guinea with a view to securing suitable properties.
The syndicate’s original intention was to take over the mining areas that were be ing worked in the Upper Ramu region by Captain Bernard McGrath when he was murdered by natives, Mr. Burlington, however, when he got there found that the new regulations imposed by the Adminis tration for the protection of prospecting companies were so drastic that it was not possible to carry on operations profitably and he abandoned his plan, so far as it related to Mr. McGrath’s leases. He then investigated the possibilities of the new field recently opened on the Lakekamu River, Central Papua, and as a result his company applied for certain leases there, close to the leases which have been ap plied for by Guinea Gold N.L.
Mr. Burlington returned to Morobe and made investigations in the Wau-Edie Creek area, with the result that he has secured rights over six leases which lie along Edie Creek, a short distance above the New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. leases, on which the famous Golden Ridges mill is operating,, three miles westward of Wau. The leases referred to are those held by Messrs. A.
Newton and Ernie Dover, who have the alluvial right. Mr. Burlington’s company has secured the mining or deep level rights, and also has an option over Messrs. Newton and Dover’s alluvial rights. British and New Guinea Gold N.L. has also secured options over 12 leases adjoining the six referred to—these 12 comprising mostly the block held by Mr.
J. C. Williamson; and it also has options over two other adjoining leases held by Messrs. Wilde and Stower.
Preliminary investigations on the six leases along Edie Creek (those held by Newton and Dover) indicate the presence of a rich lode —in fact, there appears to be valuable gold, both alluvial and at depth, all through this locality.
Mr. Burlington returned from New Guinea to Melbourne early in and it is probable that a prospecting company will be formed by British and New Guinea Gold N.L. to deal with these properties.