France's Ignorance of

Her Colonies' Resources Official Publication Makes Several Boners

MORE fantastic statements about New Caledonia’s mineral wealth come from Paris, in a 16-page tourist brochure devoted to the Colony and the New Hebrides—an official prospectus of impeccable layout.

Speaking of the “practically inexhaust ible iron deposits of 55 per cent, teneur in the north and south of the island” the brochure adds that the presence of chrome and nickel in the ore “permits of commercial production on the spot, of iron and steel of different types”.

There is, of course, no iron smelting in New Caledonia, although the Japanese once exported it from Goro in the south; and although Broken Hill experts have, more than once, visited the Plaine des Lacs deposits to see whether ore export to Australia would be worth while.

Actually the presence of small quantities of chrome and nickel in Caledonian ore is a disadvantage, making the ores diffi cult to smelt.

Another error is the statement that the Colony produces “a considerable amount of coal from three deposits of which the principal is situated at Point Doniambo”; and that it is “good anthracite eminently suited to local needs”.

Actually, Doniambo is covered, with the Nickel Co. smelters. Some time be fore the war Maison Ballande lost about 19,000,000 dollars trying to work coal at Moindou, up the west coast, but the coal was so inferior the project was aban doned. A mining village, now deserted, was built close by.

Mr. Tom Sefton, of Koitaki, one of the best-known planters in Papua, suffered a stroke recently and is now a patient in the European Hospital in Port Moresby. It is reported that his con dition has caused anxiety to his many friends. Mr. Sefton has been a resi dent of the Territory for many years, and has been identified with practically all public movements, and is held in high regard.