LONELY MINER

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1940, Page 10

LONELY MINER

WORK ON PAPUAN ISLAND DEATH AT AGE OF 83. The death has occurred at his home on a lonely island off the coast of Papua of Mr Robert Boyd, aged 83, gold prospector and planter who spent his early manhood in New Zealand. Mr Boyd came to New Zealand in 1887 with his parents from Ireland in the ship Lady Jocelyn. His father had purchased land at Katikaii for £2 an acre, but farming it proved a hopeless business, and Mr 'Boyd left the property as a boy and went mining in the South. Island.-He had a never-to-be-forgotten view of the Tarawera eruption of 1886 from Taupo, where he was staying at ■ the time. • • ! Leaving New Zealand-in 1888 Mr Boyd went first to Broken Hill and then in 1900 to Woodlark Island oil the Papuan coast, to prospect <or goi.ld. Three years later lie went to the island of Misima, about 140 miles due east from Samaral, where- he hiid since lived. He discovered a lode Which produced gold in very payable quantities. Mr Boyd last visited his brother, Mr T. >Boyd, of Wynyard Road, Mount Eden, and other relatives in New Zealand nine years ago.