NEW GUINEA GOLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 December 1926, Page 11

NEW GUINEA GOLD

DETAILS OF THE FIELD. MINING ENGINEER'S VIEWS. DIGGERS IN BAD WAY. BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION -COPYEIGHT Received 2.10 p.m. to-day. SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Regarding the dissatisfaction among tlie miners in the New Guinea goldfield, Air. H. Clark, a mining engineer, and a representative of the New Guinea Gold Company, at present visiting Sydney, explains that the whole trouble is over four leases at the head of Belie Greek. These are held by the discoverers, ami embrace a considerable area. Applications were made for twenty-one other leases .surrounding and adjoining the four. After fruitlessly awaiting months for official action, the miners’ association decided to mark off the whole area into the miners’ right claims of 200 by 100 feet, and ballot for them. After the ballot those who obtained claims got to work, but- an official radio message was received, stating that the twenty-one' claims had been refused, and the four original leases granted. Consequently the men who had drawn claims within the other leases were compelled to cease work under the risk of a. lieavyfine, or imprisonment.

The holders are left stranded until the warden arrives, and adjusts matters. The position of the unsuccessful claim holders is serious. T Mi\ Glark states that the whole disputed area is suitable for working as miners’ rights with box and dish. The field itself i.s cold, but will be healthy when decent communication is established. He expects big developments, and is satisfied that alluvial gold will bo found within a radius of two hundred to three hundred miles of Edie Greek.