SEEKERS FOR GOLD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 10 December 1926, Page 7

SEEKERS FOR GOLD.

A TRYING TIME. CONDITIONS ON NEW GUINEA FIELD. * V CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, Dee. 9. After a delay of several weeks, caused by a breakdown of the wireless plant at Morobe, the Daily Guardian publishes a radio message from the Bulolo gold fields, New Guinea, stating that ais the result of an official proclamation that they were not allowed to seek for gold on leases held by a syndicate known as the “Big Four, ’ about seventy miners, or ninety per cent, of those left on the field, invaded the leases and washed gold. At their request the police watched the proceedings and took the men’s names. The gold was afterwards lodged at the warder’s office and the miners requested Mr. Bruce to hold, an official inquiry regarding the leases they had invaded.

The message also' states that great privation exists on the field. There had been much sickness among both the whites and the natives. Two whites had. died en route and other. l ; had died in the field. The jumping of claims is rife. . while the owners were absent in search of food or labour. Native labour is scarce and exorbitant 4ures are paid to secure natives required for transport work. The miners also sent a radio message to intending goldseekers to the effect that the chances of those leaving the coast for the field are almost hopeless, adding that they will hang on till their “grub-stakes” are .exhausted, then must go or be carried out broken financially and in health.