Archives-August 1930

Is Edie Creek Another Rand?

Great Development awaits only

solution of transport problem

Isle del Oro - Island of Gold - was the name of New Guinea 300 years ago. That was when Alvaro de Saavedra, Commander of the Spanish Exploration Fleet, visited its palm-girdled shores in 1528. After him, it seems probable other explorers and navigators headed for this “treasure island”, the glitter of gold serving as a powerful magnet to the venturesome.

On Germany annexing the territory in 1884, some prospecting work was done. It is on record that when the Great War broke out, Dr Habert, the Acting-Governor, a mining expert, as well as a practical business man, was returning from the Waria River, after examining the possibilities of dredging the area. Prior to that, three Australians - Bill Parkes, Jim Preston and Mat Crowe - had received the Bird-of-Paradise shooting permits from the German Imperial Government, on the understanding that the proceeds were to be spent prospecting for gold at Koranga Creek, a tributary of the Bulolo River, near Edie Creek.

In 1920, Australia took over the territory of New Guinea under mandate from the League of Nations. Prospecting went ahead with renewed vigour, but met with little success until Mr William Royal, with a party of three white men, in 1925, came on an El Dorado, high up in the mountains alongside Edie Creek. The news of this find soon reached Rabaul. Then the race commenced. Luggers, well past their sailing days, and even native canoes, were brought into

commission for the trip to that low-lying strip of land - Salamoa - the port nearest the almost

inaccessible goldfields.

Prospectors in Australia, with vivid memories of Yukon and other fields, were quick to realise the opportunities of this tropic clime.

As a result, the mail steamer for Salamoa Bay was packed on each trip, even the open decks being used for accommodation.

Some Fortunes were Made The scene changes to Salamoa, with its palms waving in the gentle breeze, seeming to express the disdain of this invasion of their age-old solitudes. “Let them find out for themselves,” they nodded to one another as though they knew of the trials the gold-seekers would have to endure in that forbidding mountain range.

And those trials materialised, soon enough.

The men must have possessed wonderful spirit to battle through as they did. Tired and footsore, they toiled up the mountains to their goal, experiencing every kind of hardship. For delivery of food supplies, the prospectors had to rely on native porterage, only obtainable at

exorbitan prices. The natives themselvess looked upon the 60-mile trek to the mountain settlement with dread. Apart from the tortuous tracck, there was the ever-present danger of maraudimg tribes sweeping down on them. Head-huntinjg was a recreation with the people in that region..

Some of the miners pegged rich claiims, and quickly turned their trip to good accountt. Others were not so fortunate. There was a certain amount of lawlessness, but the Government’s representatives always held the upper hand.

On the field, one figure shone with the brilliance of a tropic star - Mrs Mary Booth, the first white woman at Edie Creek. She had accompanied her husband there, and every day, after hard work at their claim, heroically performed the duty of nurse to ailing miners. Her personality, her devotion to the sick, and the fortitude she displayed during her two years’ stay, won for her the admiration and affection of all. For her noble, untiring work, she was recently awarded the Order of the British Empire, an honour richly deserved.

Enter the Plane The arrival of the first aeroplane at Wau, two years after the initial rush, revolutionised transport. The trip could now be made in 30 minutes, in place of the grueling 10 days.

Statistics show what good work the aeroplane services have since done. Over 3000 passengers have been carried, and £3,000,000 worth of cargo transported. The cost is heavy, the passenger fare from Salamoa to Wau aerodrome being £5, and the freight 9d per lb. ■