Wewak Field

200 Miners Make A Living

OOME 200 men now are at work on what is called the Wewak goldfield, inland from the northern coast of New Guinea. Most of them went there from the Morobe goldfield which, in any event, had lost much of its attractiveness for individual miners.

Nothing sensational has been found on the Wewak field, but it provides the majority of the miners with a living. It simply justifies its name as “a battler’s field.” A few men are doing very well, however. That well-known Morobe pion eer, Ray Parer, has been lucky, and is reported to be averaging some 14 ounces a week, with a team of six boys. Some of his associates also are on good country. But it is a patchy irritating field, giving just enough gold to keep the miners scratching hopefully, while pro viding no one with a fortune.

The aviation companies have been freighting in supplies, while using the Morobe district as headquarters; and freights, from the Madang-Wewak coast to the field, have been brought down to about 3d per pound. It is reported that Kevin Parer, Ray’s brother, shortly will commence his own aerial freighting ser vice between a village on the north coast of New Guinea where most of the steamer freight will be unloaded, and the field.

Stores, also, have been established. Every one was very hesitant about the Wewak field, at first—it looked a mere flash in the pan—but the coming of the freighting service and the stores suggest that con fidence in its future is growing.