N. Guinea Gold

Warden’s Monthly Report

THE goldfield’s warden at Wau, T.N.G., sub mitted to Rabaul, the following report cover ing July operations; Gold and silver bullion exported during the month amounted to approximately 24,569oz. valued at £A141,808/15/10.

Gold Stealing

During the month three European employees of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., were convicted of gold stealing and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor at the Wau Gaol. Several other Euro peans, some of them also employees of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., have been committed for trial on charges of gold stealing and illicit gold buying, and will appear before the Supreme Court, on Circuit, at Salamaua early next month.

Gold In Tabar Islands

Mr. H. F. Pearson, Assistant Warden of the Morobe Goldfields, inspected and reported upon the recent gold discoveries in Tabar Islands, situated to the north of New Ireland. Gold was found to occur on both Tatau and Simberi Islands.

A goldfield has been proclaimed on the former, and over eighty claims pegged. Mr. Pearson reports that the geological conditions on both islands are similar, the bedrock consisting of jointed volcanic tuff containing a high percentage of felspar. The tuffs have been intruded by a series of sills and dykes of a very dark fine grained siliceous rock carrying small crystals of horn blende and by a felspar porphyry. In places in the tuffs may be seen bands, up to one foot in width, of a bluish kaolin containing abund ant iron pyrites.

The gold found to date is in a very fine state of division, and there is nothing in the areas examined to justify the opinion that alluvial gold will be found in other than small quantities.

The potential value of the Tatau field, and the occurrence on Simberi Island, lies in the discovery of gold in situ in sufficient quantities to be pay able. With well-directed prospecting, there are distinct possibilities of payable ore deposits being found.

It is thought that the gold will be found to be a zonal accessory in the volcanic tuff rather than as defined veins. Whether the zonal distribution will be governed by some variation in mineral composition that was favorable to deposition in the virginal tuff or in a zone of fracturing due to igneous intrusions, can. at present, only be surmised. It is also likely that the boundary be tween the auriferous and non-auriferous rocks will not be sharply defined.

It will thus be seen that the area will not be an easy one to prospect, more so as all those on the field are amateur prospectors with very little or no experience. This statement is made with out being derogatory to those on the field whose energy and keenness is to be admired. There is then the danger that a promising field may be marred through inexperience. This danger would be removed with the advent of a couple of ex perienced prospectors.

Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited

A total of 260 tons of freight was delivered at the Bulolo and Bulwa Aerodrome during the month, also 59 white and 29 native passengers were carried.

Nos. 1, 2 and 3 dredges were operated con tinuously throughout the month and recovered a total of 15,653 ounces of gold from 634,900 cubic yards dredged.

No. 4 dredge was brought practically to com pletion during the month.

The Baiune Power Station’s race canal and settling basin are now estimated to be about 50 per cent, completed. Preparations were made to start laying the pipe line to the powerhouse.

Nine whites and 233 natives are engaged on this work. At the powerhouse, the foundations for three units were poured and the discharge tun nels inside the buildings were finished. The switch-house building is erected and the machinery is being assembled ready for installation. It is expected that the plant will be finished ready to operate about the middle of October.

Elevating work on Placer Arnold’s Property commenced on July 10 and continued for 14 days. The plant is operating satisfactorily and the pit is being opened up to bedrock. About 600 cubic yards were handled during the month and 57 ounces of bullion recovered. Work continued on the Stork & Parker tribute on the upper por tion of this property.

The Company had 250 Europeans and 888 natives in its employ as at the end of July.

New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.

Edie Lode No. 1: No. 3 Level, West Drive from North Crosscut at 790 feet, advanced 71 feet to 74 feet. North and South Cuddies at 25 feet (from above Drive)) commenced and advanced 9 feet. No. 3 Lever, South Crosscut at 709 feet (from West Drive) advanced 53 feet to 113 feet.

No. 3 Level, West Drive, South Crosscut at 603 feet, commenced and advanced 10 feet.

Edie Lode No. 2: No. 4 Shaft sunk a further 27 feet to 445 feet. Rising a further 246 feet. Foot ages—Driving, 71 feet; crosscutting 72; shaft sink ing 27; rising 246; total 416.

Bulolo Gold Deposits Ltd.

Sluicing was confined to the Flat Creek area, on what is known as Graham’s and Smeaton's Lease. Clearing of timber was also carried out.

Five Europeans and 77 natives were engaged on the Company’s leases.

Sunshine Gold Development Ltd.

Goldfield Leases: The survey of the Baiune Water Race was under way, also preliminary sur veys of a water race from Reidy Creek to pro vide power for driving a sawmill. A workshop and store were constructed. Road construction to connect the Goldfoil Lease with the Bulolo Gold Dredging road at the Baiune was also carried out.

Three Europeans and 38 natives were engaged during the period.

Undaunted Lease: Race construction under way.

Ono Leases: The drilling outfit for testing the alluvial areas has arrived at Lae and will be transported to the leases in the near future.

Day Dawn (New Guinea) Limited

B Level — 140ft. Level: No. 8a Rise has been put up 24ft. Total 58ft.

No. 1 Level—210ft. Level: Rise at 60ft. from portal has been put up 27ft. through to the sur face. Total 27ft. Stope No. 2a Rise North has been carried along in ore for a length of 30ft. at an average width of sft. to a height of 68ft. above the floor of the level, through to the sur face. Stope No. 2a Rise South has been commenced and carried along in ore for a length of 16ft. at an average width of sft. 6in. to a height of 27ft. above the floor of the level.

Intermediate Level—270ft. Level: Stope No. 9 No. 8a Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 30ft. at an average width of sft. to a height of 56ft. through to the No. 1 Level.

Stope No. 8—No.8 —No. 8a Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 35ft. at an average width of 4ft. 6in. to a height of 56ft. above the floor of the level through to the No. 1 Level. Stope No. 1 — No. 5a Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 27ft. at a width of 8ft. to an average height of 32ft. above the floor of the level. Stope

No. 9 —No. 9a Rise is being commenced. No. 2 Level—310ft. Level—Winze in North. Manganese Drive has been put down 26ft. in ore. Total 35ft.

No. 6 Rise has been commenced and put up 21ft.

At this point connection was made with No. 6 winze from the Intermediate Level. Main South Drive has been advanced sft. Total 220 ft.

Milling: In July No. 1 Mill ran 403 hours and crushed 697.5 tons of ore. No. 2 mill ran 387 hours and crushed 678.5 tons. Total, 790 hours and 1,376 tons.

Day Dawn South (New Guinea) N.L.

No. 1 Vein—130 foot Level—North Drive has been advanced 9 feet in ore. Total 250 feet. 200 foot Level —North Drive has been advanced 29 feet in ore. Total 245 feet. No. 1 Winze has been sunk 20 feet in ore. Total 50 feet.—No. 1 Vein—330 foot Level —At about 300 feet along the strike of lode from Adit at 200 foot level, No. 1 Vein has been cut and the hillside battered down and driving on the vein has been com menced.

Mount Lawson Prospecting And

Options Syndicate N.L.

Staff—Europeans 2, Natives 54.

General— Testing was carried out during the month and 20 pits were put down comprising 328 feet, and 719,280 cubic yards were tested and proved. Options were secured of Dredging Claims

Nos. 122, 123, and 124 on Lower Watut, and exemptions secured until 31/10/34 for the purpose of preliminary survey. A further option was taken on Dredging Claim No. 69, Middle Watut, for a period of three months for purposes of preliminary testing survey.

Koranga Gold Sluicing

Both nozzles operated on day shift, one on wash and one on overburden. Progression tail race from Bulolo is proceeding satisfactorily. Forty-five recruits were engaged.

Edie Creek Goldmining Company N.L.

Main Lode No. 1 Drive.— Winze off No. 3 Cross cut at 180 feet from adit portal has been started, and sinking on the lode, advanced to 7 feet. Work was stopped in the sink and Winze collar and level near same was securely timbered.

No. 2 Lode— These workings are approximately 250 feet higher up the mountain than the main Lode. The crosscut has been opened up and timbered where necessary to 100 feet from portal. At 94 feet No. 2 lode was cut, giving a width on bottom of crosscut, of 5 feet.

Plant.— Owing to heavy rains during the past month, surface work has been slowed up. No. 1 Leaching tank has been completed, also Sump and Headwater tanks. Ore Bin is in course of construction.

Mining Applications In July

For Water Rights on Upper Edie, Lower Watut, Upper Watut, Lower Edie, Bulolo River —1 each.

For Dreding Claims on Sunshine and Upper Watut—1 each.

For Alluvial Claim on Edie Creek—2.

For River or Creek Claim on Lyall’s Creek—1.

For Hydraulic Claims on Bololo River, Lower Watut and Upper Watut—3.

For Miner’s Homestead Lease on Binatang Creek. —1.

For Business Area, Garaina —1.

For Machine Area, Baiune —1.