Fiji Fortunes

Made from Tavua Goldfield

Announcements by Australian newspapers that Mr. E. G. Theodore is now a millionaire, as a result of his activities in connection with the Fiji (Tavua) goldfield, and that fortunes have been made by Mr. Pat Costello, of Suva, and by Mr. Borthwick, prospector, have again stirred Australian interest to fever heat; and speculators and company pro moters are giving much attention to the Colony.

Congratulations extended to the men concerned are quite sincere. Mr. Theo dore always has been a bold operator; he risked a huge sum on the develop ment of Tavua, and he won out, and de serves all he made.

Mr. Theodore

Mr. Theodore is a well-known figure in Australia. He entered politics as a La bour member, in 1909, when only 25 years old, and he was a Minister there from 1915 until 1919, and Premier 1919-25. In his early life he held advanced political views, and in consequence he was known as “Red Ted.’’ He entered the Federal Parliament in 1927, and was Common wealth Treasurer in 1930-31. He left Parliamentary life as a result of Labour Party squabbles—another example of how Labour’s underground engineers destroy their best leaders. Perhaps, as he is now very rich, he will decide to re-enter politics. It is to be hoped so: the Commonwealth needs men of his outstanding ability.

Mr. Costello.

Mr. Pat Costello has been seeking gold in Fiji for 15 years. His faith never wavered. Suva men used to jeer at him —but he only grinned. He left Sydney for Suva at the end of April, and his smile was wider than ever. He was won dering if they still are jeering in Suva.

But even those who scoffed will offer sin cere congratulations to the genial Pat rick. He, too, deserves his win.

Stricter Control Of

Prospecting

The Government of Fiji has decided that the issue of gold prospecting licences in Fiji will be even more strictly con trolled than previously, and the condi tions of the licence more rigidly enforced.

In making this announcement in the “Fiji Royal Gazette,” published on April 13, the Government declares that its earlier statement of policy regarding the Tavua field applies equally to the Yana wai mining area and to any other mining areas which may be proclaimed. Appli cations for prospecting licences will be considered by any parties who can prove that they are able and have the neces sary capital to prospect, in the fullest sense of the term, the areas for which they apply. The Government cannot see its way to issue prospecting licenses to parties having little or no capital. In the event of the applicant failing to satisfy the Mining Board on these con ditions, the board may refuse the applica tion, but the applicant may make a fresh application subsequently.

A further amendment to the regula tions provides that the holder will prose cute vigorously and continuously pros pecting operations to the satisfaction of the board, and will promptly, and at the latest within 60 days of discovery, report to the board all mineral discoveries con sidered or found to be of a payable na ture. A holder shall not be deemed to be prospecting according to the stipula

tions unless there be engaged in the operations persons in the opinion of the board qualified and competent to pros pect in the proportion of at least one to every 250 acres, and a staff of labourers in the proportion of at least one to every 25 acres of the prospecting area. These obligations may be suspended in certain circumstances.

Besides having in view the employ ment on prospecting areas of a larger number of men, the amended regulations provide for the proper medical care of employees in mines.

Major C. B. Joske, of Suva, Fiji, who has been in Sydney and Melbourne on business connected with Fijian gold-min ing, left by the Mariposa for Suva on May 1.

The capital of Solomon Islands Develop ment Co. Ltd. has been reduced from £100,000 in 1000 shares of £100 each to £50,000 in 1000 shares of £50 each, on each of which shares £45 has been paid, The reduction is effected by cancelling paid-up capital that has been lost or is unrepresented by available assets.