Fiji’S Gold

Governor’s Precautions Against Speculators

THE future of the gold-mining industry in Fiji was referred to in optimistic terms by the Governor at the meeting of the Legislative Council in Suva on Oc tober 12.

Sir Murchison Fletcher said that the gold-mining industry continues to de velop and a Mining Board has been ap pointed to deal with it. “The Tavua area (in the north-east of Viti Levu) is now to a certain extent a proved gold field and while traces of free gold are to be found in the shallow surface soil over a large tract, deep excavation is ne cessary in order to prove lodes and their values; and for this purpose skilled men and the employment of much capital are required.”

The question of general mining policy seems to be giving the Governor some concern and he has referred it to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. His Excellency pointed out that “the gold is the property of the community as rep resented by the Crown, and it is in equitable that this property should be transferred to an individual whose claim to it lies in the fact that he happens to have been first in a scramble to peg out •claims in the Land Office. It is difficult to find a satisfactory demarcation be tween on the one hand the genuine pros pector who is ready and able to prove in a scientific manner such area as may be allotted to him, and on the other hand the man whose only object is to obtain a right which he can sell to the highest bidder and so get something for nothing.

The Government will not move hastily, and it is not the intention to issue further prospecting licenses in the Tavua or Yanawai areas, except upon full investi gation of an applicant’s intentions and of his ability to carry them into effect.

“If a prospector should make a dis covery in some other part of the Colony and should obtain a prospecting license, and should thereupon proceed to pros pect vigorously and continuously, it is

proposed that no further licenses should be issued in respect of land in the im mediate vicinity, until the first-comer should have had time to prove his dis covery. I referred to this matter in my address to this Council on the 13th Oc tober last year.”

Children of Mary, Catholic Mission School, Koki, Papua.—Sitting, left to right: Father Flynn, Father McEncroe and a French Father from Yule Island.