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PAPUAN GOLDFIELDS.

BRITISH MINERS ON GERMAN LAND. BOUNDARY QUESTION. BT TELEQRAPH—PEEB3 ASSOCIATION—COPYBIOM Melbourne, May 22. Mr. Deakin, Federal Prime Minister, in reply to a question as to whether friction oxisted between Gorman - officials' and British miners, in Papua; said there had .been no collision. between the • authorities. Certain British miners had been working over country belonging to' Germany, but had paid the dues demanded without' demur. - Tho Commonwealth Government, Mr. Deakin stated,-had written to tho Colonial Offico asking. it lo arrange a meeting between - British and German representatives to' settle tho boundary'and other matters. GIRA RIVER AS BOUNDARY. 'A "BUSH" AND ITS COMPLICATIONS. A London ■. cablegram, dated May 2, stated that Herr Benningsen, a former Governor of German New Guinea, referring to. the existence of gold lliere, suggested that diggers of any nationality ' should/be allowed 'to mine in the torritoryl Tho ." Cologne Gazette" farther suggested a discussion of British and German mining rights along'the frontier, proposals for a rectification of the-frontier, making "the Gira River the natural boundary.' - Tho present boundary between British and ■German NewGuinoa is (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") largoly artificial. "The line .starts on tho eastern coast, at the Bth parallel of south lat., continues along that parallel till iii intersects the Owen Stanley Itungo, then it .proceeds north-west, to the intersection of the 1-Mdeg. of E. long., and the Gtli parallel of S. lat., thenco west-north-west to the Dutch boundary on tho 141 st degree of E. long. Tho Gira River takes its rise in the Owen Stanley Rango, flows north-eist, and enters, tho so'a where the British and German territories meet. Hence if a natural boundary is made by taking the Gira River as tho division, Germany will gain a considerable accession of territory." Australian prospectors havo for some time past been working in the vicinity of the Gira River, and a "rush," more or less sensational and attractive, is anover-presont contingency. It is said, indeed, that some of tho best of recont discoveries have been made on what is believed to bo German territory. The possibility of location of important goldfiolds on dis-puted-territory indicates that it is important to Australia,, as woll as Germany, to leave nothing to chance, and to havo a business-like understanding as soon as possible. Onco tho boiuidary is settled, there noed not necessarily be any hindrance to mining operations- on oither side of (lie line. Tho Commonwealth's only anxiety, it would seem; would bo to provent tho New Guinea frontier being made a point of entry for Asiatics and aliens. It seems that tho island continent is bound to have a frontier, whether it chooses or not.

, The suggestions of the " Cologno Gazette " as to rectification of the Anglo-Gorman frontier in New {Guinea, .by making the Gira River tho natural boundary, wore criticised by Australian newspapers, and the criticisms wero cabled to Germany. According. to a Berlin cablegram, tho German semi-official reply is that Germany, by virtue of. her control of tho lower course of tho River Gira, holds tho advantage. It is fo-< her. rather than for Australia', to impose conditions m any coming negotiations.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19080523.2.21

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 5

Word Count
518

PAPUAN GOLDFIELDS. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 5

PAPUAN GOLDFIELDS. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 5

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