Aboriginal Stockmen In Gold-Mining Business

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30472, 20 June 1964, Page 13

Aboriginal Stockmen In Gold-Mining Business

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright)

PERTH, Juno 19. Four Aborigines who tuned from mustering cattle to prospecttag have a chance to become prosperous under a unique agreement they have made-with the Western Mining Corporation, a big

mining group. If their gold find, 500 miles north-east of Perth, lives up to its early promise and becomes a good producer, they

stand to share between £55,000 and £60,000. Their mine Is three miles from the site of the original Goanna Patch find which caused Australian-wide interest when it was discovered in 1958 by a 41-year-old native stockman, Rowley Hill. At their modest working this week Hill and his three partners, Peter Hogarth, aged 60, George Ricks, aged 45, and Willie Elliott, aged 45, signed a letter of agreement with Western Mining. Peter Hogarth, the only member of the group able to read and write, signed his name.

The others made their marks on the documents in the presence of representatives of the company and the Native Welfare Department. Western Mining will get an option to buy the mine for £5OOO. If it exercises the option ft will pay each of the natives £lOO a month royalties for 10 years. Immediately Western Mining will provide modern equipment and a supervisor to direct mining and prospecting, and will pay the natives award rites—from 67s 4d a shift—to work the mine.