GOLD LURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 November 1934, Page 4

GOLD LURE

SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. SYDNEY, November 2. So eager is the search for gold these days that some of the most forbidding spots in the jungle-clad islands of the South Seas, which have never before been penetrated by white men. are now being' prospected by bands of adventurous men, most of them Australians, who are prepared to brave the wilderness and the rigours of the Tropics. Few explorers, however, have met with greater hardships than a party which set out from Sydney some months ago under the leadership of Mr P. Courtenay. director of the, Treasure Island Exploration Company, Ltd. Mr Courtenay has just returned to Sydney to report on (he results of his investigations and io discuss future plans. The party’s original intention was to prospect Santa Cruz, 4000 miles north of Tulagi. Courtenay and his men chartered a cutter, and, after a fearful all-night experience in a tropical gale, during which the cutter was blown many miles out of its course, tho party eventually dropped anchor at San Christobal Island. In view of the- year the expedition decided to return to Tnktgi ami concentrate on Guadalcanal'lsland, concerning which prospectors bad previously given the expedition to understand that there was a likelihood of gold being found in tiie interior.

Guadalcanal was reached several days later, and the party was met by local prospectors and guided through almost impenetrable jungle for a distance of 15 miles. This necessitated an ascent, of 5300 feet after a hazardous journey involving the fording of crocodile-infested streams. The crossing' of the streams could only bo effected after native carriers had gone ahead and frightened the crocodile by loud ( latnouring and violent -splashing. It was found that the country was exceedingly auriferous, and certainly v'm ranted close investigation. Some high-grade alluvial gold was secured from the creek beds and tributaries, and samples have been brought to Australia. Traces of platinum were also found. How it will be possible to work these areas at a. profit is a. problem that the company will have to solve. While on the island the expedition discovered some remarkable caves, outrivalling Janolan, in New South Wales, for majestic grandeur and beauty, even they were not equal in delicacy of formation.