Winning Gold in Papua.

Native Miners.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Mar. 1.

A CONSIDERABLE number of native Papuans, in the east of the ter ritory, work alluvial gold success fully.

The deposits they work are by no means rich, and have been known to Euro pean prospectors for many years, and abandoned. But, with no other expenses than that of a prospecting dish, the na

tive. with a pointed stick and his hands* has at times had appreciable results.

Some are known to put down their own sluice-boxes, and work them singly or in groups, and often their wives as sist in the enterprise.

Actually, several natives sold 211 oz. of gold to registered gold-buyers a short time ago, in addition, it is said, to fur ther quantities disposed of through other channels.

One native prospector actually came across a nugget weighing 31 ounces. Nug gets of 2 ounces are by no means uncom mon, they say.

These primitive miners are in a for tunate position. They need no clothes, and their food is supplied from their own gardens, which are cultivated by their women. As the Resident Magistrate of the Eastern Division remarked some time back: “They make of it an easy life and appear to be well rewarded”.

At Sudest Island, the scene of much goldmining activity 50 years ago, the na tives still work the abandoned creeks and claims of the old mining days and, though the amount they obtain is by no means large, some 56 ozs. of gold was won during one year both at Woodlark and Sudest, by natives of these islands.