Mining In Papua

Activity on Lakekamu, Tufi, and Astrolabe Fields

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, May 24.

THE Bulldog landing ground of Guinea Gold N.L., on the Lakekamu gold fields is now in readiness for the landing of large Junkers ’planes. A wireless telephone has been installed at the landing, and greatly facilitates communication, rendering excellent service to those in charge of the various operations.

The aerodrome site comprises about 40 acres situated in extremely difficult country, and the completion of the task is in a large measure due to the excellent supervision of Mr. Jack McKenna, who, from the beginning, has been in charge of the large labour gang employed for the purpose.

Another landing stage on the field is nearing completion. This is three days further west, on the Tauri River, for the use of Golden Stream N.L., which is at present testing its 7200 acre leases jointly with Guinea Gold N.L. Mr. Nason-Jones in charge of Guinea Gold enterprise on the Lakekamu, returned from Australia by the Macdhui on May 9. After a few days in Pt. Moresby, he proceeded to the field with Colonel and Mr. Peter Radcliffe, of Golden Stream N.L.

Other new arrivals for the field are Messrs. Roberts, Pincott, Fidlin, Weston, and Hanrott. This party left Pt. Moresby on May 15 by schooner for Kukupi, the landing stage at the mouth of the Lakekamu River.

Besides the testing operations conducted by Guinea Gold, Golden Stream, and those of the recently-formed Lake kamu Goldfields (Papua) Development Co., the Sunshine Gold Mining Co. of New Guinea, has also extended its sphere to the Lakekamu. Mr. Todd, a geologist, and J.

A. Boileau, engineer, are testing the leases on Sunset Creek, with a boring plant. The Co.’s leases are not far from the Bulldog landing.

Transport to and from the field, other than by ’plane, from New Guinea or Pt.

Moresby, is carried on from the mouth of the river by a transport company, under the management of Mr. Fred Clark, whose launch plys steadily up and down the long, tortuous course of the Lakekamu, with cargo and passengers.

Patrol Officer A. M. Healy has been appointed acting A.R.M. for mining and native matters in the Lakekamu gold fields area. The appointment is the result of representations made by the different mining concerns on the field for a resident officer, with the power to deal with native matters. Previously to this appointment, all native matters had to be referred to Kerema, the Government station, many miles further along the coast, which caused considerable delay and unnecessary expense.

Tufi District

Mining in the Tufi district, North- Eastern Division, has caused a little in terest in the Territory lately. Messrs.

Headon, Muddell and Maddocks with 12 Goodenough Island boys, have proceeded to the Awala River to prospect. There were 18 miners working on the Awala River (Tufi district) in 1917. They included “Sharkeye” Bill Parkes, Matt Crowe, and Fred Kreuger. The miners all worked with box and dish and apparently did successfully, for a time.

Mr. A. Smeaton, of Sandy Creek, New

Guinea, arrived in Papua in April with his partner, Mr. Graham, on their way to the Main Range, where they intend to test all likely-looking ground with a view to a dredging proposition. They have 15 boys with them, and intend to make a prolonged stay.

Astrolabe Field

In April of this year, Mr. Carroll representing a large Southern mining syndicate, took an option over Mr. Alexander Christie’s two copper mining leases known as the “Laloki” and the “Moresby King,” on the Astrolabe mineral field. They are situated near Saphire Creek, about 20 miles outside Pt. Moresby. Mr. Jack Spence, a well known mining expert in Papua and New Guinea, is a member of the syndicate. He arrived recently by ’plane from New Guinea to inspect the properties.

Residents in Pt. Moresby are hopeful that the reopening of the Astrolabe field may bring prosperity back to the country.

Mr. G. W. Partsch, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Western Samoa, died at Vailoa, Apia, on June 3, at the age of 83. Mr. Partsch, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, had a colour ful career in the South Seas.