On Bougainville

Promising Gold Lode Being Opened Up

APPEARANCES suggest that a useful gold industry may soon be established on the island of Bougainville (which is one of the northern Solomons, but which, for administrative purposes, is part of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea).

It is over two years since attention was first directed to attractive gold prospects in the hills at the back of Kieta; and in vestigations were then made by an Ade laide Syndicate.

Nothing much was done for some time; but, more recently, a Brisbane man sent two experts to the island, and as a result of their report the Bougainville Syndicate was formed in Brisbane. This Syndicate bought the existing mining rights and made arrangements to work a lode dis covered in the hills eight miles back from Arawa, which is some 12 miles north of Kieta, on the east coast.

The Syndicate purchased about 300 tons of mining machinery, and this was shipped to Bougainville by the Malaita, in June.

The Malaita landed it at Arawa, and it was man-handled through the jungle to the mine, eight miles away, and 3800 ft. up in the ranges—a rather terrible bit of transport.

One man, who claims to know the coun try, declares that “there is as much gold in the ranges that form the backbone of Bougainville as there is on the mainland of New Guinea.”

The Bougainville Syndicate is not on the Australian stock exchanges—it is de scribed as a “one man show.”

Mr. James Lequire Adams, who had been a resident of Thursday Island for over 35 years, died suddenly while on a business visit to Sydney at the end of June. He was manager of the T.I. branch of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., and the Wyben Pearling Co.

Mrs. Kathleen Bignell, a well known resident of the Solomon Islands, arrived in Sydney in July and intends to spend several months in Australia. Her two daughters, Margaret and Jean, are now residents of Sydney.

Mr. E. A. Chater, who acted as general manager of Guinea Airways Ltd. during Mr. Grabowsky’s illness, has been appoin ted assistant general manager of that company.

Recent photo greph of church which is being built at Dogura, north-east coast of Papua, for the Church of Eng land. The foun dation stone was laid on August 10, 1934, by Mrs.

Samuel Tomlin son, who has been connected with the Mission for 44 years.