December Morobe Output

£A244,996 December Morobe Output Creates New Record

THE Mining Warden of the Morobe Goldfield of New Guinea (Mr. Harold Taylour) submitted to the Central Ad ministration, Rabaul, the following report covering progress and operations for December, 1934: Gold and silver bullion exported during the month amounted to approximately 38,340 ounces, valued at £A244,996. This is the highest monthly produc tion recorded from the Morobe Goldfield. For the year ending December 31, 1934, approximately 285,406 ounces, valued at £A1,678,012, were ex ported.

Much damage was done to alluvial workings and roads during the month. The floods were the heaviest on record.

Sunshine Gold Ltd.

Consolidated Claims: Power-drilling operations were carried out on Leases Nos. D.C. 63 and D.C. 67, and Mr. C. Duchatel completed these operations on the 24th ultimo.

Baiune Water Race.—A distance of 3005 feet was benched to a width of 8 feet inside the grade oe~s during the period. Camp buildings were being constructed at various points along the line of race.

Transportation. —About 15,000 lbs. of cargo and plant included saw bench and Fetter’s diesel en gine were transported during the period from Bulwa to the Consolidated Claims.

Ono Leases.— Hand-drilling and power-drilling operations were carried out with a staff of two Europeans and 12 natives.

Edie Creek G.M. Co.

Main Lode No. 1 Level.—Stopes have been opened up on the sill floor and ore is being produced for the bins. The method adopted of timbering the stopes is square setting which appears to be the most suitable for this lode.

Plant.— All the leaching tanks have now been completed and we should be in full production in January. Excessive rains have caused several slips round the plant, but these are now being cleaned up.

Day Dawn (N.G.) Ltd.

No. 2 Level, 310 ft. Level. —Main south drive has been advanced 35ft. Total, 325 ft. No. 7a rise has been put up 35ft. Total, 35ft.

Intermediate Level, 270 ft. Level.— Main south drive has been advanced 20ft. Total, 775 ft. No. 1 level, 210 ft. Level.—Footfall drive south has been advanced 24ft. Total, 84ft. “B” Level, 140 ft.

Level.—No. 8 to 8a stope has been started and carried along in ore for 20ft. in length, to a height of 17ft. above the floor of the level.

No. 1 mill ran 259 hours and crushed 417 tons of ore; No. 2 mill ran 285 hours and crushed 423 tons of ore, making a total running time of 544 hours and total tonnage crushed 840 tons.

N.G. Goldfields Ltd.

Edie Lode No. I. — Rise from south cross-cut at 603 ft. No. 3 level, west drive, advanced 8ft. to 80ft. and work temporarily suspended. Edie Lode No. 1, No. 4 shaft, No. 5 level flat advanced 12ft. and completed. Edie Lode No. 1, south cross-cut from No. 5 level flat, commenced and advanced 24ft.

Rising for blocking out ore: 254 ft.

Karuka Lode. —Haulage cross-cut extended 47ft. to 193 ft. Diamond drill hole advanced to 287 ft.

Golden Ridges haulage shaft sunk to a total of 40ft.

Bulolo Deposits Ltd.

Sluicing operations were confined to the terrace on dredging claim No. 29, situated on the west side of Flat Creek. Two sets of boxes were in use.

As a result of a heavy flood in Kunai Creek on December 14, 120 ft. of fluming collapsed cn the company’s big water-race. Fourteen days were occupied in the reconstruction of the flume. During this period the water was cut off the main race and the opportunity was availed of to effect repairs and cleaning operations.

During the period four Europeans and 74 natives were employed. Generally, health was good,

Bulolo G.D. Ltd.

The camp experienced an abnormally heavy rainfall for the period. Owing to unprecedented floods two wash-outs occurred on the Bulolo- Bulwa road, causing much damage and necessi tating expensive and lengthy repairs. Motor traffic will be suspended for several weeks, present com munication being maintained by aeroplane. Con siderable damage was done to the Bulolo race, and repairs are being effected.

The company’s 2 G. 31 Junkers operated continu ously throughout the month. Sixty-five trips were made, and 182 short tons carried, at an average of 5,6061b5. per trip.

Despite heavy floods little time was lost by the four dredges, the majority of which, however, closed down for the Xmas vacation. 15,919oz5. of gold was recovered from 881,400 cubic yards dredged.

Despite the heavy rainfall the new Baiune power station operated consistently and satisfactorily, taking the majority of the load; and the working conjointly with the Bulolo powerhouse very little working time was lost through power shortage.

Placer Arnolds. —Operations were greatly retarded due to. repairs to plant and shortage of native labour, a considerable amount of which had to be diverted to urgently required repair works else where. Including the boxing operations on the upper portion of the property 1,675 cubic yards were treated, which yielded 80.75ozs. of gold.

Drilling and Testing.—Three Keystone drills operated during the month, two on double shifts.

A fourth Keystone drill will be operating at Bulwa next month. The hand drill is not in operation at present. A deep shaft has been started at Bulolo to permit further examination of the deep gravels exposed by the drills.

The No. 6 barracks and machine shop extension were practically completed during the month, and general repairs are now being proceeded with.

During December six Europeans and 201 natives were treated in the Bulolo Hospital, the increase of native admissions being due to a small dysentery outbreak, which is now well under control.

Placer Development Ltd.

An examination of an area on the Mingin River has been completed, and the option which the company held in connection therewith has been surrendered.

An option has been secured over some leases and water rights held by Bulolo Gold Deposits in the Wau-Koranga area.

Koranga Gold Sluicing

All labour was concentrated on tribute at Lower Koranga from December 1 to 14 when a cloud burst caused unprecedented floods on Kunai and Koranga Creeks.

Landslides occurred on No. 1 face, dams and intakes were washed away, fallen timber and slides caused damage to head-races and all hands have been concentrated on reconstruction and repairs.