Gold-seekers’ Hardships in New Guinea

New Guinea

A WARNING of the hardships that awaited prospectors who entered New Guinea with less than £500 to support them, was sounded by Dr. J. R.

Atcherley, an expert mining engineer, who returned to Melbourne in July after a visit to New Guinea.

Men were arriving at Rabaul, he said, with only £50, and their plight was hopeless. It was necessary for each to lodge £30 with the Administration before entry to the territory was allowed, and too often this money had to be used to re patriate gold seekers after their failure.

“There is no casual work available for unqualified mining men,’’ Dr. Atcherley added; “most of the white men on the goldfields are experienced men who are working for the big companies, and all the labour is done by natives. A number of men went up seeking work last month, and they have had to return at the ex pense of the Administration.

“All the payable auriferous area known is taken up, although there is a good deal of prospecting going on. Exploration of this kind takes money, and a prospector needs to have at least £500 at his back before he can be considered to have any chance at all of finding good country.

“Unless a man applies for work from this end as a technician or engineer, or in another capacity which commends him to the companies, he has little chance."