THE NEW ELDORADO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 15

THE NEW ELDORADO.

GOLD IN NEW GUINEA.

REPORTS OF RICH FIND.

NOT A POOR MAN'S FIELD.

[from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. July 1.

A new Eldorado has been found in tne South Seas, according to the ac counts that are drifting down to Sydney from New Guinea. There is every rea son to believe that the discovery is authentic and already the passenger lists of the steamers leaving this port for the North have swollen far beyond their usual size. Travellers, too, from the island have brought to Sydney tales of tile richness of the new field, although their stories are tinged with warnings of the difficulties of reaching the field. The field lies along the Bullolo River and Edie Creek, m the mandated territory of New Guinea, in country of the most rugged and difficult description. Not only is this region a jumble of steep mountains, but it is also covered with dense jungle. There is a tremendous Tropical rainfall, rising .even along the coast to 200 inches a year in places, anu probably exceeding that among the mountains, though no records are available. The country is without a vestige ol roads, and even native tracks are absent over much of it. Vet, in spite of all ..nicuities the miners who have pioneered the district seem comment oi success, auJ repoits ol good discoveries have reacneu die .New bumea and jt-apuan towns, froof of this was obtainable in the ar rival of the steamer iUarsi'na from New Guinea last week-end. That vessel car ued amuug her consignments lbOUoz of gold, valued at over i.5000. Humours ol Vast Eichness.

According to advice from Morobe, wheie the officer in charge of the wireless station, as agent lor the miners, has aiieady registered a number oi claims, the tiud is of real importance. 'lhere are rumours that the held is enormousiy rich and that wonderlul finds have been made, but owing to its inaccessibility much remains to be done in the way of proving the value of the field. The gold is described as semi-alluvial, and is far from pure. The miners are tremend ously handicapped by the nature of the countryi Tools and stores, including practically every ounce of food required, have to be carried over the mountains and through the bush on the backs of tfative carriers, the only transport avail able. . Moreover, it is hard to secure carriers. Owing to its mountainous nature the region is thinly inhabited, and the few natives have been little affected by civilisation, so that there is little or no local labour avai able. Though the field is but 15 miles away from its nearest port, Salamoa. it takes a full-laden carrier seven or eight days to make the journey. It is net a poor man's field. Apart from the cost and difficulty of reaching Salamoa itself, the mere cost of transport to the fields is prohibitive .to the poor man. Then there is the expense of securing native labour to work the claims. For a man with only a few pounds to venture into this field would be sheer madness A clear capital of at feast £SOO is neeessary. Warnings to Prospectors. Apart from the monetary aspects, there are other difficulties. As soon as the news of the discovery was published in Svdnoy and Melbourne men with long experience issued warnings to intending prospectors. While these generally confirm that the d"ftrict is potentially rich in gold-bearing properties, they point out that the district reeks with blaclcwnter fever of f he worst type, and also that the natives are of the fiercest type in New Guinea. "For 150 rr''les," says one of these old hands "there is not one semblance of a road, or clearing: nothing Hit the most primitive morass and mountain "iuneles. am - ! not n bird or beast suitable for food, with danger at everv step, not only from th» natives. Vint from dysentery, malaria and exposure.