He's Seen a Lot of Gold...

William George Mitchell, Now Burns

Philp manager at Norfolk Island, is an old hand from New Guinea.

He was born at Creswick in Victoria in 1878, went to work at Cobar in NSW in 1894, at Hie copper-mine. When the company folded in 1914 he went to the North Coast of NSW, which was having a period of rapid develop ment. In 1917 the copper mine at Cobar ipened up again. Bill returned for three years Jefore going to Papua. There he worked for he Laloki copper-mine at Bootless Inlet, until hat company also folded in its turn (in 1927).

At this time the Morobe Goldfield was in 'urious activity, so he joined Burns Philp in ialamaua.

The first big shipment of gold was in a notley collection of boxes and bags totalling 5,000 ounces, which Bill despatched in the ild "Montoro". He built up the BP trade n the goldfields through those hectic years, md in 1936 transferred to Wau, becoming listrict manager for the firm. In February, 942, there was some misunderstanding with he Japanese, who bombed Bill right out of lew Guinea. He then spent three years in he Import Procurement Department, and mother three with the War Damage Com nission in Australia, where his knowledge of lew Guinea was valuable.

Returning to Burns Philp in 1947, he was ent to Norfolk Island as manager, where he ives with his wife in the "Madeira of the ‘acific". He was first married in 1907, and wo of his daughters are well-known in New iuinea —lrene is Mrs. Steve Lonergan, of Port Moresby, and Jean is married to Harry Mc iilvery, at Kavieng—BßETT HILDER.