Warden’S Report

Increased Milling Activity On Morobe Field

EARLY in March the Mining Warden (Mr. Harold Taylour) submitted to the Secretary for Mines at Rabaul the following report covering mining activity and progress on the Morobe goldfield, New Guinea, during February: Gold and silver exported during the month amounted to approximately 34,371 ounces, valued at £A222,180.

During the month a large increase in mining activity was apparent throughout the goldfield.

Areas previously considered unpayable have been taken up for testing purposes, and, if found payable, will be equipped and worked by strong financial groups. Visits to the field by mining company directors and technicians have recently become more frequent, and there are many indications that much organised prospecting and development of raining properties will be seen during the next twelve months.

At least three well-equipped geological survey parties could, with advantage, be employed on the goldfields at the present time. The existing or ganisation of the Mines Department is quite in adequate to meet the demands of the public for maps, plans, and geological and technical data.

Bulolo Deposits Ltd.

Sluicing operations were carried on continuously during the period in Flat Creek, on dredging claim 29. One set of sluice boxes and two monitors were in use. No night work was carried out.

A gang of natives was at work on the clearing of timber ahead of sluicing operations, and on clear ing a new route for the main 22in. diameter pipe line.

The water race was in good condition throughout the period and the flow of water uninterrupted.

Labour employed consisted of four Europeans and 74 natives.

Day Dawn (N.G.) Ltd.

No. 2 Level (310 ft. level): Crosscut West at 230 ft. has been put out in slates for 15ft. Total 85ft.

Crosscut West at 357 ft. has been put out sft ini porphyry. Total 10ft.

Stope No. 6. —No. 6a Rise has been taken out over a length of 30ft. to an average height of 12ft. above the floor of the level.

Rise at 70ft. in Manganese south drive has been, commenced and put up 34ft.

Winze in Manganese North Drive has been sunk a further 10ft. Total 45ft. At this point a drive was put out 10ft., also a crosscut into the hang ing wall for 7ft.

Intermediate Level (270 ft. level). —Crosscut west at 400 ft. has been put out for 18ft, Hanging wall drive at 400 ft. has been driven for 12ft.

Winze at 400 ft. has been put down for 3ft. 6in.

and stopped.

“B” Level (140 ft. level). —Rise from No. 8a —No. 8 Rise Stope has been put up for lift.

Stope No. B—No.8 —No. 9 Rise has been carried along in ore for a length of 55ft., to an average height of 22ft. above the floor of the level.

For February, No. 1 Mill ran 276 hours and crushed 478.75 tons; No. 2 Mill ran 334 hours and crushed 549.75 tons, making a total running time of 610 hours, and total tonnage crushed 1028.50 tons.

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

No. 1 Vein (340 ft. level).—North Drive has been, advanced 61 ft. in ore. Total 276 ft.

No. 1 Vein, 200 ft. level—No. 2 Winze has been started and sunk 15 feet in ore.

Foreman’s residence. —A 20ft. by 10ft. house of galvanised iron is in course of erection.

The excavation necessary for a small limestone kiln is being carried out.

Benching of the Baiune water race has been, under way, with a daily average of 100 natives em

ployed.

A track suitable for pack horses through the Baiune River Gorge between the Bulolo Gold Dredg ing Ltd.’s power house road and the junction of the two main branches of the Baiune River has been formed.

Transport.—17,6oolb. of cargo, etc., were transported during the month.

Sawmill.—The sawmill has been cutting timber for house building.

A new Mess House has been erected during the

period.

Sunshine Leases.—The track through the gorge between the Consolidated Watut Claims and the Sunshine Leases near the Snake River has been widened to facilitate transport of the power drill

ing plant.

Ono Leases. —Drilling and testing is in progress on these leases under the supervision of Mr. D. D.

Smart. The power plant is at present drilling on dredging claim No. 210.

The number of Europeans engaged over the month amounted to 12, and the daily average num ber of natives engaged was 176.

Edie Creek Gold Mining Co.

Main Drive No. 1 Level.—All work underground has been confined to this level. Stoping on the Sill floor off No. 2 Crosscut and stoping on the Sill floor off No. 3 Crosscut. The Main drive has been advanced in nice-looking ore to 320 ft., with only the footwall exposed.

The leaching plant is giving every satisfaction and will be in full production in the near future.

The health of the labour covering the period has been fair.

N.G. Goldfields Ltd.

Edie Lode No. I.—No. 3 level, west drive from north crosscut at 790 feet, No. 2 south crosscut, ad vanced 64ft. to 107 ft. Rising for blocking out ore, 16ft.

Edie Lode No. 2.—No. 5 level, south crosscut, advanced 78 feet to 219 feet. No. 3 level, east winze, sunk an additional 36ft. to 136 ft. Rising for blocking out ore, 15ft.

Karuka Lode.—Haulage crosscut advanced 66ft. to 317 ft.

Diamond Drill Hole.—Advanced to 348 ft.

Golden Ridges Haulage Shaft.—Sunk an additional 14ft. to 87ft. below the collar.

Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.

Repairs to the Bulolo-Bulwa Road, consequent on the wash-outs caused by the December floods, are still proceeding. A temporary road has been constructed and opened to traffic between the two camps.

The Company’s G3l Junker aeroplanes operated satisfactorily during the month. About 140 short tons were carried, 49 trips being made The four dredges worked normally throughout

the period. There were 14,417oz. of gold recovered from the 820,000 cubic yards dredged.

General overhaul of the Bulolo power station and race was completed and the station placed in ser vice again. Steel tunnel sets have been installed in three tunnels.

During the month electric current was switched on to the New Guinea Goldfields line to Wau, under contract.

The replacement of old wooden power line poles by steel poles has been completed from the Bulolo Power House to the Bulolo Camp.

The Baiune Power Plant functioned satisfactorily throughout the month.

Placer Arnolds.—Work on this property was re sumed in February. Including the boxing opera tions, 117oz. of gold were recovered from 1083 yards treated.

Drilling and Testing.—Three Keystone drills (two on double shift) operated at Bulolo, and one at Bulwa during the period.

Further satisfactory progress was made with deep shaft sinking.

Extensions were made to mess, machine shop and residential buildings. Various repairs were effected, and the erection of five new married

quarters commenced. At Bulwa five married quarters are under construction.

The general health of the camp was good. Five Europeans and 44 natives were treated in hospital.

At the end of February, the company employed 233 Europeans, five Chinese, 1065 natives.

Placer Development Ltd.

The Wau-Koranga leases are still under exam ination by this company—option from Bulolo Gold Deposits Limited.

Two further options have been secured over leases adjacent to Wau, known respectively as dredging claims Nos. 298, 307.