WORKING GOLDFIELDS BY AIR.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20756, 17 January 1933, Page 7

WORKING GOLDFIELDS BY AIR.

TRANSPORT IN NEW GUINEA. MELBOURNE, January 7. Tho gold of New Guinea, found buried in the depth ol a virgin forest, reaches the coast only because aeroplane services have made mining operations possible and profitable. The goidfie!ds are situated about 70 miles inland from Salamaua, on tho north-east coast of the mainland of New Guinea. A 90-mile track through wild and riotous jungle over surging streams and precipitous mountains takes native- porters 16 days to traverse. Early in 1927 it was found that the direct air route of 33 miles took 1 hour 25 minutesthere and back again. But then crime the problem of landing-grounds. The ditrlculbv proved almost insuperable, and on one memorable occasion natives who were armed with picks and shovels and other useful tools burst through the Undergrowth to surprise n group oi hostile natives engaged in a cannibal Since 1928, in addition to landinggrounds at Wan, on the goldfields, Salttmaiia, and Lac, another coastal settlement, emergency landing-grounds have been laboriOttslv constructed. The necessity for these emergency grounds scarcely needs justification when it is recalled that a DH9C, which was forced down in the Bulolo river area four years ago, still remains in its hidingplace. Now there are 21 machines on the field and about 20 licensed pilots, the largest company being Guinen Airways, Ltd. Tho machines make their journey from coast to goldfield, carrying men, machinery, provisions, and even stock. A Junkers machine, carried recently a load of 29001b, consisting of one ton of rice, two passengers and their luggage, and its own petrol arid oil. Bub that was eclipsed when another Junkers machine transported from Lnu to Wau a 55001b boiler which had to be lifted into the machine by a crane and lowered gently through a hole in the cockpit. But these large loads are profitable. The normal load Of 16001b to 17001b yields a financial return of about £BO an hour. The record load of gold at one time is IO.OOOoz.