THE NEW GUINEA GOLD DISCOVERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5064, 8 February 1878, Page 3

THE NEW GUINEA GOLD DISCOVERY.

Fr.OM a lengthy accouut of Mr. CoUio's explorations of, and dinenvery of gold in, New Guinea wh-eli appears iu the Sydwy Ec, nl:i'j Xcci, we take tho following particulars : — Mr. Guldie'-s expedition to New Guinea is of a botanical rather than a mineral character. He started from Somerset, (Jape ork, som« six or seven months ago, and coasted_ roiiim the houth and south-east parts ut -New Guinea in liU vc-sel, the Kxplorer and he his made many discovcri-3 in the Horn and lamia of Sow Guinea which were previously unknown tu science. The whole party comnrisc- live uersons, three of whom are natives of Uic South SU Inlands. Uia letter aunouncina the discovery is under date of December 12, 1877, written at Pore Moresby, lie says " the mention of the words ' gold, .',,1,1, in New Guinea.' is sutlieieut to make thousands leave comfortable homes to go in many eases to meet death and disease. It will be useless on my part to pomt out and warn diggers, for seldom are such warnings heeded ; still, I shall ilj my best to point, out the ditfieulties and dangers that iny experience enables me to do." He states that the lirat piece of gold-bearing quartz was picked up in the bed of a river that he had not then visited. He then resolved to devote a mouth to following up the course of that stream. When Mr. Goldie and his party started on this mission on the 15th November last, they were '20 miles inland from Port Moresby. To pet to this point they had to employ fie asaistauce of two tribes ! to carry the stores, and they had groat [ diiliculty iu getting natives to assist them further. All their inducements failed in getting tho natives to go further than six milc=, as they were in terror of tho natives further inland, whom, they said, slept with one eye open. At that time Mr.Goldie's party had stores which required eight men to carry heavily loaded, there wei-e dangerous rivers to ford, and he had only with him three South Sea Islanders and one European. ()u the Kith November, they followed the course of tho river upwards, whicU was very circuitous. They passed through some native villages, which had the appearance of being lately deserted. They ascended a hill about lOOO" feet high, from "which they obtained a splendid view of the surrounding country. Oil the 17th November, they moved the ! camp further up the river, and came to some light drift on the banks. Here they found gold in the black sand in every trial they made, aud the bottom of the river was literally strewed with gold-hearing quartz, muudic. &e., samples of which were s-ent to Mr. Goldie's nyeiits in Sydney. Messrs. Mason Hros. While stopping at this place, some natives were seen folLiuniL; their tr.iuk.-., aud when they came into the camp thev showed themselves to be friendly, and" took two of Mr. Goldie'* party pome distance up tho river aud pointed nut to them the footmarks of some wild animal, of which the l'apuaus seemed much afraid. Tho animal must have been a large one.and hud footprints like a horse's hoofs -.rich shoes on, and. <|uite as large with the appearance of four toes. On the ISt-'u the party passed through Mine magnilicent rolling country lit to bring all tropical products to the greatest perfection. This was 10 miles from l'ort Moresby. It was a splendid country ; covered with long and luxuriant grass, with abuni'aiv.'O of water and few na'.ivcs. In the next two days nothing of importance was encountered. Several p-irtics of natives were met with, all friendly, one man was iix feet, and woli built.

i»n tho L'Oth, linding that thej- could not carry all their baggage, they carried the. greater jioition of it, and taking a small ijuantity of food with them they marched inland. The country changed from open grass land to heavy bush. They saw some beautiful fern" trees, some with trunks about twenty feet in resembled the Aloi-iihillii.ii YoumjU. tlic trunks about six ineh.-s in diameter.' They named t'n river in which the gold was found, and which was followed in their wanderings, the Goltlio River. It falls into Redscar Bay. The distance inland the party went in a direct line was not less than r>o miles, and the distance inarched was over 400 miles. It was the upper part of the river they explored, the distance from Redsear Bay to the point where they struck the river is not less than 100 miles. Mr. Goldie has marked the line of march upon a map, which is to be published as a ynide for others in the future. lle has collected 11100 skins of birds in which there are liUdistinotspecies. some of which are new. He has also secured 23 birds of paradise. Twice the lives of the party were in danger, and both times danger was averted by the faithfulness of their dog. Mr. Goldie recommends that a strong party should lirst come to New Guinea provided with all appliances for gold mining, and that they should be composed of good practical miners, under one leader, hWaHy bound to obey all his orders. There should be at least twelve packhorses and twelve Kanakas to take charge of tho horses. a,:d themselvs generally useful. The Kanakas should be got from at least six different island--, as"'thev would then sne.iic six different languages, which would prevent them combining to oppose- the Kur.ipaans. Six-2ood practical minors would be snflioieut, ami they should reach the di-trictiiot earlier tlinti May. the first of tho dry season, when they would have ah: months of dry weather befnre- them. They should bring cv.-.-ythmg with them, provision?, arms, ammunition, tools , , &e. Native food is not to be depended uno'n. The prospectin- party sho.ild h-.v, ; pi-Mity of •' trade ■' with them, tobacco being tV' bust. ('ommon trade hatchets arc greatly prized small red beads, butchers knives, and Turkey red cloth. Mr. Oldie states that he wiil not leave the Port Moresby district before the month of May, ami intimates his willin"iiess to give such a prospecting party all with tho natives that was in his power. lle says : " 1 know a great deal of their native language, and could explain their object to the native.-). If any liberty should be taken, more especially towards tho women, r.o whito man's life would be safe ; it is needful that such warning should be given, as the natives are not immoral, that is, with Kuropeans ; how th'-y act towards one another it may be different ; that is where I fear the greatest fviis may come from, and from that cause alone I should dread an influx of a European population. They arc a very intelligent race, and would be quick to revenge a wrong done them, not on th? ofTeiiilins party, but on the first man of the same race as the oflendiiiK party. ... I earnestly warn the public that there should be no rush at present. It is true I have found gold, but it wants practical men first to prove whether there is sufficient to justify a rush of Kuropeans. Xo one. should try it without ptvek-horscs t,o carry food inland, and food to live on might be brought, or know of its arrival. The natives have barely suflieieiit for themselves. Do not depend on that source." Mr. Goldie also discovered a scam of soma mineral, which he takes to be coal. This was iu Fairfax harbour, close to the water.