Western Papua

Searching for Gold in Western Papua New Expedition Under Mr. J.

Ward Williams

AN expedition left Port Moresby at the end of July for a two years’ prospect ing campaign in Western Papua, and will be joined by Mr. J. Ward Williams, leader of the party towards the end of August or early in September.

Mr. Williams, who is at present in Syd ney, said that he had formed a syndicate overseas to finance the expedition. Both American and English interests were be hind the expedition, the head of the Eng lish group being the Selection Trust Ltd., of London, and the head of the American group being the Pardners Mines Corpora tion.

He said that four members of the ex pedition have left for a 950 miles sea and river journey to a base previously estab lished 550 miles up the Fly River. The members, Messrs. J. Bourke, W. Korn, J.

Kinsle, and wireless-operator Brown, travelled in a 30 ton boat, with 25 carriers.

About four months’ supplies were carried in addition to wireless equipment.

A Sikorsky amphibian ’plane has been purchased in New York, added Mr. Wil liams. On its arrival in Sydney it will be assembled at Mascot Aerodrome and later flown by Flight-Lieutenant Stuart Camp bell to the Fly River base.

Special arrangements have been made with Amalgamated Wireless for the equip ment of the ’plane with wireless. Mr.

Williams said that he would probably fly to Papua in the ’plane.

The main object of the expedition is to find large gold dredging areas, he said.

The party would be armed, but his ex perience, after six years in all parts of Papua and New Guinea, was that there would be no trouble with the natives. The success of the expedition, he added, de pended on the friendliness of the natives.

Mrs. E. W. Oakley, wife of District Officer Oakley, was a passenger to New Guinea by the last Montoro.

Mr. C. A. Berendsen, C.M.G., head of the External Affairs Department of the New Zealand Government, who has been intimately associated for some years with the administration of Western Samoa, joined the Niagara at Auckland in July, en route to Europe, where he will attend the League of Nations’ sessions in com pany with the High Commissioner-elect for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, ex-M.P.