And Now It’s
p. 160 · Read in the full issue
P-Ng Mineral
Wealth
And Now It’s Nickel
A LTHOUGH it is reported frorm A New Caledonia (which has a ‘nickel economy”) that the nickel boom is expected to be over by 1960 and that thereafter, if not: before, prices will begin to decline, there has been considerable interest during the month in deposits of the ore in New Guinea.
THE nickel deposits are in the Waria Valley, Morobe District) of New Guinea.
The ore, however, appears to be low-grade. The extreme difficulty of getting transport to the area seems to rule out any early ex ploitation of the deposits.
Government geologist, Mr. J Thompson, first discovered the de posits.
In early August, the International Nickel Company of Canada sent s Dutch geologist, Dr. D. R. de Vletter to investigate.
The Bulolo Gold Dredging Com pany stated at the same time that the company had applied for prospecting leases over 8;000 acre: around Garaina, in the Waria Valley and had a geologist in there in vestigating. The company is “look ing for nickel or anything else tha might be there.”
What About The Claims
Of The Waria Syndicate?
THE activity in the Waria Valle; is interesting from anothe:; angle—the claims of the ok Waria Syndicate. (PIM, July, p. 144)( The interest of BGD and Inter national Nickel should stir Mr. H. R Wahlen to fresh endeavours. Thi Waria Syndicate was granted miners rights over an area in the Warij country by the Germans befon World War I.
Mr. Wahlen was a member of thr syndicate and has been fightint since the end of the First War tJ have the Syndicate’s claim recog nised.
Although all German property n NG was expropriated at the enr of that war, the major share of thr Waria Syndicate appears to hav been in Swedish hands, and on thi basis the claim for recognition made. t a Papuan girl, now to be know as Sister Anny Mary, recent.;] entered the Handmaids of Our Lonr a Roman Catholic Order—a nr achieved some publicity by so dome Like many light-skinned Papuai. she was plentifully tatooed. Sonr of these girls are tatooed from th face to the ankles.