GOLD DISCOVERY IN KENYA.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20806, 16 March 1933, Page 7

GOLD DISCOVERY IN KENYA.

A NEW ZEALANBER'S PART. 1000 MINERS NOW AT WORK. A. Xew Zealandcr, Major F. Starnes. D.5.0., 0.8. E., was one of the four prospectors in Kenya Colony who first discovered gold in payable quantities two years ago. Since then, gold-mining there has become a considerable industry, 15 limited liability companies having boeu formed in the last six months.

Major Starnes, who is visiting Christchurch, said in an interview yesterday that he and his companions, one of whom was a Klondike miner, were not searching for gold when they marjc their lucky find—they were looking for beryllium, a little-known light metal for which there is a demand nowadays. The gold was found in the gravel bpd of a stream, and they panned it out. They had known for some time "that there was "colour" there; but gold had not previously been found in any quan» til.v.

Keef mining was now going on, Major Starnes said; but the shafts had not yet been driven down to any great depth, the deepest being about 100 feet. Alluvial deposits were first found, and then reefs. Practically every stream carried "colour"; but there were only four or five good streams. Jt was quartz country, and that particular belt was of 400 square miles, being surrounded by granite. Rush to Peg Claims. "Following our discovery of gold, 1 * Major Starnes said,, "we were given a concession of 35 square miles by the Government. It was good gold country; but 1 suppose one of the' richest streams is outside the concession. My wife is the owner of that—she had pegged it out previously. For about six months after our find, my companions and I were left alone; but then the ncw« got about, and the rush started, the whole area being pegged out very quickly. About a year ago, 200 men were gold-miniug, and when I left a few weeks ago 1000 men were on ,the job. One of the alluvial claims, which, are 100 ft by 100 ft, is very rich, and has yielded about 1000 ounces." The discovery of gold had meant much. to the Colony, because the farming industry was in a very bad Way. The maize and sisal markets wer« xery depressed, and coffee was the only thing that was keeping up in price. The gold industry had therefore come into being at a time when it was vary badly needed. The Government had quickly taken it in hand. Owners of claims, even if they were settlers on the land, had to deposit £lO at the District Coinmissioner's office as a guarantee that they were able to make a proper Start* meet expenses, pay wages, etc.

No Difficulty with Native*.

Questioned about recent reports of some difficulties with the natives, following the mining boom, Major Stamp* said there had been really no trouble. Some people at Homo had suggested that the natives would l>e forced off their places when land was taken for claims; but that was absurd, for the native population was too great to be pushed anywhere else. Such land RB had been taken had been compensated for, and the tribes were quite happy and satisfied.

Explaining why he had chosen Kenya as his home country, Major Staraes, who served with the Canterbury Eegiment in the War, said that after he left the army he wandered out ther, having already seen a good deal of the world. "I "lilted Kenya," he said. "I thought it one of the best countries I had ever seen, and I still think so. I have been there for more than 12 years, and I am afraid T could not live as long anywhere else. You. are nftt cramped there, life 'is happy, and the natives —there arc dozens of different tribes —arc good boys."