Life Of Bgd

Dredges Going: Plywood Coming

OF the eight dredges established in the Bulolo Valley of New Guinea in the ’Thirties by Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., five are still in operation. No, 1 closed down in 1949, and 3 and 6 in 1951. Nos. 1 and 6 were dismantled, and their parts are being used on the others.

No. 3 was sold for shipment over seas for $150,000.

BGD goldbearing gravels now are petering out. The current year will be profitable; but after June, 1953, a sharp decline in returns is expected.

Dredge 8 will cease in 1953, No. 2 probably in 1954, and No. 4 in 1955. The deep-diggers, Nos. 5 and 7, probably will keep going until the early ’Sixties.

Meanwhile, under its new partner ship with the Australian Government, BDG now are designing and in stalling a ply-wood plant which will operate on the great stands of Hoop and Klinki Pine around the Bulolo Valley—an important industry that should have a long life.

In October, the Suva Theatre Group, staging “Cinderella” pantomine under great technical difficulties, provided the Fiji capital with a week of delightful entertainment. Messrs. James Crawford and Paddy Mulelly, assisted by a score of hard-working people, successfully drilled some two score of attractive young people and produced a series of stage settings, ballets, songs and solo dances which were pleasing to the eye and very

entertaining. For six nights, the Town Hall was packed with happy audiences— and no one can say that that ancient building was planned for theatre pro ductions. The three outstanding players were June Hedstrom (Cinderella), Jocelyn Exon (Prince Charming)—shown in above photograph—and Oonagh Bruen. who has outstanding talent, charm and skill as a dancer.