Blow To Eastern

Papua

G.M. of P. Close Down of Misima

THE closing of the Misima mine by Gold Mines of Papua Ltd. has dealt a severe blow to goldmining in Eastern Papua, and to merchants and traders there.

Until recently, there were 3 companies operating on Misima—Cuthbert’s money spinner. New Misima Ltd., working on the Umuna lode; G.M. of P.. employing 40 Europeans and 500 natives, apparent ly also on the Umuna lode; and Quartz Mountain Ltd., a New Zealand company, doing some developmental work with some seven Europeans and a large line of native labourers.

G.M. of P. have now put off 30 Euro peans and over 400 natives (the Euro peans came south by the August “Macdhui”). and Quartz Mountain also have reduced staff by about half. The money-spinner, of course, is spinning as merrily as ever; but Misima and Sama ra i are lamenting the departure of the *big G.M. of P. staff. About 10 Europeans and nearly 100 natives are trying to pick up the true lode. If they succeed. G.M. of P. will boom again, for all the mach inery and equipment still is there, ready to resume operations.

There are a couple of “small gold shows” working in Eastern Papua and apparently doing well.

Messrs. Neate, A. Dawkins and the late Gus Nelsson were members of a syndi cate working the ‘ Woodlark King”, on Woodlark Island, under the management of Mr. Neate. They are profitably oper ating at the old Huntingdon mill, which previously had taken out £70.000 worth of gold. This is the property which Gold Mines of Papua investigated, and turned down.

In Milne Bay, Mr. Fred. Kruger is working a 2-head battery, and Messrs.

Tardy and Anderson also have been op erating a 2-head battery there. Anderson recently was bought out by Tardy.