NEW GUINEA GOLD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1929, Page 18

NEW GUINEA GOLD

THE AEROPLANE SERVICE

£25 FOE TRIP TO I'MEL.US

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, 3rd January

So great, has been the success of the New Guinea goldfiolds that the shipment of gold to Sydney last year totalled 00,o!)0 oz, worth £216,707. Every mouth except April gold was brought to Australia, and the largest consignment was in August —24,7000z, valued at £04,030. One of the thrilling romances of modern times is the aeroplane's share in the rapid development of the New Guinea goldfield. The Bulolo fields have been opened up with phenomenal rapidity, the powerful nine-cylinder 'planes being able to transport any kind of cargo. Air communication between Lac, on the New Guinea coast, and the Wati, 00 miles inland, the nearest accessible point to the Bnlolo-Kdie Creek goldfield, dates from Ist April, 1027, when Flight-Lieutenant IZ. A. Mustard made the first flight. In an article written by the Government Secretary (Mr. J. Walstab) it is explained that the journey to the Bulolo fields by bush track takes eight days of solid, tireless travel. As the natives are not permitted to carry more than 501b, including their own food for the journey, progress is slow, unsafe, and unsatisfactory,'.-.the aeroplane does the journey in from, forty to' fifty minutes. . . .■""..■..

There were ■ recently five, separate organisations operating over the route, and the results have been sufficiently encouraging to open up the; prospect or the further adaptation of the aeroplane to the peculiar needs of travel in the mandated territory. In addition to the-aeroplanes at Lac and Wait, aeroplanes liavc been established on tho Upper Walut River, at Zenang, and on the Lower Watut, all in the same zone. Further development is contemplated in the immediate future. Great Junker machines are supported by Moths for the lighter work. The Junkers 'plane has seating accommodation for four passengers, and can take at the same lime 10001b of: cargo. The charge for freight is one shilling a lb, and the fare for a white man .to'.lhe. goldfields is. £25, the return journey costing; but £10. On the return journey natives arc carried for £1, and practically all /the. native labourers return by. aeroplane^ ■ the .miners finding that it is cheaper to pay- the fare of a labourer, than'to.give him rations for the long jour-, ney by 'road. ;'■•■■■■■. .Cargo of all descriptions has been transported'to the'-field, including a 4001b cast ■iron" engine, bed for the wireless station ■at'Bulolo. Gold ia the chief article carried on the return . trips. One parcel which''the'.Junkers recently carried to Lac was worth £60.00. Guinea Airways record for June last was probably unique in :the 'history of the world's air transport General cargo totalled moro than 46 tons, and mails totalled 4cwt 221b. Passengers numbered 157, so that the total weight carried was nearly 59 tons. Iho approximate mileage covered was- /149 miles, and the machine—a Junkers' aeroplane—made sixty-two flights to the \Vau and back.