Gold And Oil

Search in North New Guinea

IT is likely that within the next few months the port of Madang, on the north coast of New Guinea, will see a good deal of activity relating to new mining operations in the interior.

The oil companies appear to have com pleted plans to resume their search— mostly in the Sepik area for suitable country in which to drill for oil; and it is understood that Madang will become their principal base.

Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd. whose operations, more than any other single factor, contributed to the pre-war pros perity of New Guinea have now com pleted plans for carrying out boring operations in the Sepik area. A boring plant, in charge of Mr. Harry Horne, arrived in Northern New Guinea in May.

The BGD party have gone to Marui, on the Sepik River, 200 miles from the mouth, and from that point the work men and their plant are to be trans ported 80 miles inland to the particular area which is to be tested for gold.

Some of the men who know this region well take a very optimistic view of the BGD enterprise.

LATER:—Mr. Horne’s party met bad luck on the Sepik. They were going up to Marui when they suddenly met a heavy “fresh,” some of their small craft were swamped, and some valuable equipment was lost. This probably will delay the commencement of boring operations.