Fiji’S Gold Boom

The Governor’s Problem

From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, October 2.

QINCE his return from England, the ° Governor of Fiji, Sir Murchison Fletcher, has been much engaged in study ing the problem presented by the gold mining activities of various Australian Companies. It is known that he is par ticularly concerned with the speculation which is rife in Fiji gold-mining shares in Australia, and more particularly in the case of those companies who have not so far acquired titles in Fiji.

The Nasivi affair has demonstrated the need for prompt action in regard to deny ing statements made regarding alleged concessions obtained in Fiji.

The “Fiji Times and Herald” has com mented recently upon the need for releas ing in Fiji information given to the Stock Exchanges of Melbourne and Sydney by the various Companies engaged in pros pecting operations. As it is, it takes some

weeks before the statements published in the Australian Press are available at Suva, and when inaccuracies are noticed, the mischief has already been done.

All Companies operating in Fiji are com pelled to register, and steps, therefore, could be taken to enforce upon them the necessity of making full information available in Fiji as it is made in Sydney or Melbourne.

In view of the discretionary powers in vested in the Governor under the Mining Ordinance, a prospecting company would be well advised to comply, not merely with the letter of the law, but with the spirit thereof.

Mr. J. C. Barley (Resident Commis sioner in the Gilbert and Ellioe Islands Colony), accompanied by Mrs. Barley, passed through Sydney early in October, on their way from Queensland, to catch a steamer for Ocean Island. Mr. Barley has suffered a severe illness, the result of malaria, contracted in the Solomons, and has been recuperating for some months in South Queensland.

Mr. D. R. A. Eden, of Vailala planta tion, Samoa, has been appointed general manager of the N.Z. Reparation Estates, in Western Samoa, in succession to Mr.

F. L. A. Gotz.