Four Dredges Operating
pp. 30-32 · Read in the full issue
by Mid-1947
B.G.D.'s Hopes in N.G., Subject to American Strikes and Aus tralian Shipping
AT the annual meeting of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd. in Vancouver on Nov ember 8, the chairman of the com pany, Mr. C. A. Banks, announced that it is expected that four of the Com pany’s dredges at Bulolo, New Guinea will be in operation by mid-1947.
A Sydney officer of the company in forms us that it is hoped to have one of the dredges operating early in the New Year but that this will be possible only if essential electric motors are forthcoming from America, and there are no further delays in shipping between Australia and New Guinea.
Most of the Wau-Bulolo area was en thusiastically scorch-earthed in 1942, but the dredges at Bulolo were practically unharmed; however, the Army later re moved all the small electric motors from them for their own purposes. It is the absence of these small motors (the larger ones are intact) which work pumps and small machines, used in the various op erations of the dredges, which are de laying resumption of work now.
Most of this electric equipment is on order from America, where continued strikes have held up production. Another factor which is holding-up re-establish ment of BGD is the Australian shipping situation—that is, delay on Australian wharves and infrequent services between Sydney and Lae, the port of the New Guinea goldfields.
The 2,800 horse-power hydro-electric plant at Baiune (adjacent to Bulolo), which will supply power to the dredges, came into full operation on November 24.
A small auxiliary plant was supplying light and power to the reconstructed township of Bulolo prior to that date.
For the year ended May 31, 1941, the last full year of operations, the company, working eight dredges, recovered 167,4620 z of fine gold and 72,5210 z fine silver, of a total value of about £2,000,000.
There was a large gathering of mem bers of the Pacific Islands Society in History House, Sydney, on November 27, when the-new President,, Major A. C.
Swinbourne, formerly of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Administration, entertained the members and several guests at a sherry party. Among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Lucchenelli, old Fiji friends of the President.