Gold in NeW Guinea.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 116, 17 May 1895, Page 4

Gold in NeW Guinea.

• . .- Captain Jas. Steelc, the master of Burns, Philp and Co.'a eobooner I vanlioe, trading to New Guinea, gives an encouraging account of the gold discoveries in New Guinea. " Seven yearß ago," he said, " gold waß discovered in payable quantities' at Snd-est and St. Aignen's, two outlying islands. At one time tbere must have been 800 European miners there, now the number baa dwindled down to about 60, principally because the Snd-est natives have become civilised and do the mining themselves, Kxperienoed prospectors ilwaya had an idea that gold would be found on the north-eastern coast of New Guinea,, because it seemed probable that the lead "would be there in line from the islands. About eight rnontbu ago Sir Win. M'Gregor found gold on the coast, oloße up to the German lonndary, and sinoe then a prospootintr party baa gone to the southeastern end, the other extremity, and discovered payable gold. As gold has thus been got at both end*, it is reasonable to .believe.that it will be found in between. It ia a big field for men who understand their basinets. It is alluvial to far, and miner*

who co there require little oapital, say .£3O | or All trade in done by means of | barter. Burns, Philip and Company have a regular servioe of two schooners, wnicu cover the trade with the whole group and Thursday Island, and it is probable that a gteamer will be laid on if the present indications of progress are realised.