More Manganese From

Fiji

CONSOLIDATED Manganese and Mining Co. of Fiji reported early June that they have re cently made some important new finds in manganese deposits in the hinterland of Viti Levu near the headwaters of the Sigatoka River.

Work is proceeding quickly in one of these areas and the manganese will be brought out by convoys of trucks. The first convoy brought a large quantity of the ore over 100 miles down the Sigatoka valley and around to Lautoka recently.

Proposals have been made to prin cipals in the United States to finance establishment of a loading berth at Momi, on the south coast of Viti Levu, where overseas vessels could be loaded by conveyor belt from stockpiles ashore. Loading at Momi would avoid the long truck haul to Lautoka.

First big shipment will be made from Lautoka to the United States in July. Although American prin cipals were advised that a shipment would not be ready earlier, they diverted a ship to Fiji in May hop ing that a quantity could be sent.

A serious slip occurred on an access road which was not yet ready for heavy traffic, and it was not aossible to load this vessel, which departed after waiting some days.

By the end of 1954 it is expected ay the company that considerable quantities of manganese will be reaching the loading point.