Concessions

Moroka Co. And Papuan

THERE have been changes in the con dition of the Moroka Dredging and Exploration Co. Ltd., which was formed in Sydney in July to exploit a large tract of country in central Papua—roughly, the region lying around Port Moresby.

The Company was formed as the result of information submitted by Captain A.

J. Kenrick, and its main object was “to acquire from the Moroka Alluvial Gold Syndicate certain rights and information, and, ... to apply for a reservation with mineral rights over an area comprising approximately 5000 square miles.”

In a report embodied in the prospectus, Captain Kenrick said: “I understand that the Papuan Government will consider an

application for the areas referred to from a company which deposits with a bank in Port Moresby a sum of £30,000, this amount to be held by the Company, but expended by it through the Government over a period of 5 years in prospecting and towards development.”

The first directors were Captain Ken rick, Dr. A. E. M. Moir and Mr. J. H.

Couch. It was stated in the newspapers, however, that the Company definitely had certain concessions in Papua, whereupon the Lt.-Governor of Papua announced that no promises of concessions had been made.

It appears that there was then some reorganisation of the company, and it was announced that the new directorate was Mr. H. E. Ross (chairman), Sir Arthur Rickard, Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, Dr. A. E. Moir and Captain Kenrick. The latest information is that the company, now proposes to

find a deposit of £30,000 to be placed In Port Moresby; and that an application will then be made for the concession re ferred to.

Mr. B. F. Hooper, of the Fiji Depart ment of Agriculture, returned to Suva by the Monowai on September 20. With his wife, he had spent several months’ leave in New Zealand.