Death Of George

Arnold

RESIDENTS of New Guinea and Papua learned with deep regret of the death of Mr. George Arnold, a pioneer gold prospector and successful miner, which occurred in Sydney on April 17.

Mr. Arnold became seriously ill in New Guinea early this year, and was brought by aeroplane to Sydney in January, for expert treatment. His condition was hope less, however —the result of an internal malignant growth. He faced death with the cheery smile so characteristic of him.

He was 70 years old.

Mr. Les. Joubert, who spent much of his life in New Guinea with Mr. Arnold, and who was with him when he died, is now also seriously ill. and is an inmate of Charlemont Private Hospital, Potts Point, Sydney.

George Arnold probably was the best loved man in the Morobe end of New Guinea. He had been 46 vears, chasing gold in Papua and New Guinea, and he was one of the first miners at Edie Creek in 1924. He was what Australians call “the ideal mate”—always unselfish and cheerful, hard-working, completely de pendable, and the soul of honour. The feeling of his fellow-miners was summed up in what another “old timer” of New Guinea, the late Frank Pryke, wrote of him some three years ago:—

Little George

He knows New Guinea up and down— Mountain, river, swamp and gorge— This hardy miner, tough and brown.

Who is known as Little George.

He tried his luck on every field Back in many a former day: At times they’d give a decent yield— Sometimes would barely pay.

One of our early pioneers, In Papua’s fevered land, He battled round for many years One of a searching, restless band.

Quite often all alone he’d go Far over river, creek and range, Where flooded mountain torrents flow Through unknown jungle, weird and strange.

We know this gallant little man As a comrade, tried and true; We’ve always found him in the van, When out testing country, new.

Grim danger never troubled him, And hardship simply was a joke.

When flush, he’d satisfy each whim— Nor squeal when he went broke.

W’hen luck was in he’d freely spend— He was no slave to pelf.

Quite often he’d his money lend, And then go short himself.

Best wishes to our good old mate!

And now, for old time’s sake, We hope that he will, soon or late, A tidy fortune make.

A photograph taken on the steps of the Salamaua Hotel, Salamaua, in 1932. Left to right: George Arnold, Mrs. Alan Innes, Ned Rowlands, E. J. Roache.