Watch Wau!

THE following is entirely my own opinion, given for what it is worth.

Two things are likely to provide the New Guinea goldfields town of Wau with a rosier condition than once seemed possible.

Wau is the centre of activities of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. That concern, after years of muddling and waste, now appears to have come under the control of businesslike people, who will make it pay. In addition to deep-mining and mil ling at Edie Creek, and milling at Golden Ridges, there will be sluicing on Koranga Creek, dredging on the Bulolo flats south of the gorge (as the result of an agree ment made between N.G. Goldfields Ltd. and Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.), and an other set of activities (not yet defined) on the alluvial flats recently examined by Mr. Lang.

These things are going to keep Wau busy. , Furthermore, Wau is in the picture created by the search for a new site for the capital.

The committee may recommend the establishment of the capital in cou «try not hitherto settled by Europeans. But, if not Wau has an excellent chance of selection. In the latter event, Wau would be connected by road with a seaport and that in turn, would make it possible to work much gold-bearing country aroun ■Wau that now is unprofitable owing to high transport costs.

It is interesting to recall that, in the PIM in the middle of 1934, I urged that Wau should be the capital of New Guinea.

These are more than possibilities. I think that there is money to he by people who can see what is likely to happen to Wau. —R.W.R.