GOLDFIELDS IN FIJI

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1935, Page 10

GOLDFIELDS IN FIJI

LARGE YIELD EXPECTED

Discovered . hree years ago by an Australian prosper:>‘.or, the goldfields of Fiji are proving of great benefit to the islands, and a large yields is expected. Several hundred men .ire working, and one company was floated with a nominal capital of £1,000.000. Mr. 11. P. Hopkins, manager for New Zealand of the Royal Insurance Co., Ltd., who has returned to Wellington after a three weeks’ visit, described the fields to a "Post” reporter as a "jeweller's shop.” "1 found Suva, very prosperous, and while the copra market was not advancing much in numbers, the sugarcane industry was. very flourishing, and the advent of the mining industry is likewise going to prove of very great benefit to Fiji,” said Mr. Hopkins. "The towns of Ba and Latoka are very prosperous, and the same difficulty regarding hotel accommodation that exists in Suva obtains there. This is further accentuated by the advent of many mining men from Australia who are visiting the goldfields at Tavua. These goldmines, which were discovered about three years ago, are adding greatly to the prosperity of Fiji, both in the matter of accommodation tor visitors and the supplying of timber from the mills nearby, as well as the importation of machinery, stores, etc., for the goldfields. “The goldfields are situated about five miles from Tavua on the northern coast, and were discovered about three years ago by Mr, William Borthwick, who was prosecting for Mr. Pat. Costello, of Suva. Mr. Borthwick is an old Australian prospector of 75, and when he discovered the goldfields of Tavua three years ago he remarked that in three years there would be several hundred men working on the fields, and such is the position at the present time.

"The mines are situated on practically love! country, and the officials have all the comforts and amenities of the city. The buildings of the mines which are at present working are constructed of iron, with al! the necessary hostels, stores, etc. A car can be driven to the houses of the mines, and ice, fresh vegetables, fruit, etc., arc delivered every day from the adjoining town of Tavua. "To my mind the goldfields can be described as a jeweller's shop, and the particular mine working is the Emperor Gold Mining Company, Ltd., which lias been floated with a nominal capital of £1,000.000. I understand that already close on £ 100,000 has been spent, on machinery, development, etc.

"The other mines, such as Loloma and Aloha C -nirti!. are now in process of inspection. The Aloha Central is a thirty-acre block retained by Mr. Costello. and is situated roughly in the centre of the other mining blocks, and it is needless to say that the greatest expectations arc held in respect of the richness of tho Aloha Central mine, which w;:s under option to a Melbourne syndicate.

"The bankers and merchants of Suva are .not very enthusiastic about the mines, as they remain to b..- proved: but in my opinion there was no doubt as to lite wealth to bo produced from thecs mines, particularly the Aloha Central. Naturally, the- principals of tho mine d-> not enthuse themsclve as minl.ny, is always an um-eriaintj'. and a mine has been described as a hole- iu lite . round with a layer on th< lop; but litt'-r summing ifp the position from all points v o do feel Uiat ]'ii> J;. t<> pro-iuc. a v> ry large gold yield "