Prospecting

Jack Hides 1 Party

Second Dredging Claim Granted

AN area of 36 square miles, on the Upper Strickland River, Western Papua, has been granted as a dredging claim to Investors Limited, the Sydney company which is backing the prospec ting party led by Messrs. Jack Hides and Dave Lyall.

This (Magita Valley No. 2) is the second dredging: claim granted. The other con tains 45 square miles, and is called Magita Valley No, 1. The two areas are close together.

Messrs. Hides and Lyall at present are away un on the headwaters of the Strick land. in an unexplored region, near the Mandated Territory border, A drilling: party, under Mr. Dttfaur. will leave Sydney this month for Port Moresby, en route to the Strickland, to examine the two dredging claims.

Dave Lyall Ill

Mr. Hides advised by radio, on August IS. that Mr. Lyall was very seriously ill, from dysentery and suspected duodenal trouble. Medical directions were sent to him by radio; and preparations were made to send an aeroplane, if possible.

Their camp was in Papuan territory, about 150 miles west by south, of Mt.

Hagen aerodrome.

August 21.

Just as this journal went to nress, il was announced that Mr. Hides had arranged to return over the mountains and back down the Strickland, to the area where the dredging claims are located: and there, in a few weeks’ time, ho will meet the Austral-Malay Tin drilling nartv. under Mr Dufaur, which left Sydnev on August 20.

The R.A.A.F. flying-boat attached tc H.M.A.B. Australia was damaged when making a landing at Pt. Moresby on July 28. It was shipped to Sydney for repairs on the Montoro on July 30.