QUEST FOR GOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 15

QUEST FOR GOLD.

THE NEW GUINEA FIELD. NO BIG RUSH WITHOUT ROAD. COSTLY AEROPLANE PASSAGE. New Guinea's vast auriferous wealth shows itself in 3700z. nuggets and pans full of dust. But stout hearts, enduring physique and indomitable courage are needed to win it. Nature has imprisoned the golden wealth by ramparts of high mountains and moats of pestilential swamp and surrounded it with peril from hostile natives. Mr. Charles IJooth and his wife, who were recently in Sydney, says the Daiiy Telegraph, talk interestingly of the difficulties and adventures to be encountered working the Bulolo goldfields. Mrs. Booth is the heroine of an epic nine days' tramp from the goldfields to the coast. During thiee years in the region the miners, in gratitude for her solicitude and care, canonised her, so that now she is known as the "Angel of Bulolo. Mr. Booth is critical of the Australian Government and some aspects of its administration. There is no road, and the aeroplane fare is £25 in and £lO out, with goods freight Is per lb. There is no snow, but the frosts on peaks but little lower than Kosciusko must be experienced to be realised. Private effort has scored over Government routine, even in this remote region. Mr. Booth says he has discovered a grade practical for vehicles, through easy country. Vested interests, ho says, seem to have influenced a survey with Salamoa as the starting point instead of the more practicable route from Busamang. A Five Thousand Feet Rise. Though the distance between the two points is but a matter of nine miles, the Busamang route involves only one mountain. The road the Government contemplates must turn into Wau, thence to Edie, negotiating a 5000 ft. rise in seven miles. Representing strong Adelaide interests, Mr. Booth has taken up the matter with the Government. Mr. Booth's ! principals have undertaken to construct the road under a pound for pound subsidy and labour found by the Government Mr. Booth's road would traverse practically level country for its length of about 110 miles, without encountering heavy timber belts. The Government project, it is asserted, would necessitate clearing for almost its whole distance. The road discovered by Mr. Booth has been a jealously-guarded secret of the natives, armed bands of which menaced him at every part of the route. Their concern is for their "gardens," as their crude attempts at cultivation are known. They fear that traffic through the area will open the way to spoliation by the " boys " employed for porterage. Every tree and shrub hid a native with a spear or a bow. At other times the chiefs were openly hostile. A weak force would have been wiped out, but the strength of the party in numbers and arms was its safety. Till a road is opened up there can be no rush to the New Guinea goldfields. Transport is by porterage, but "boys" are aimost impossible to get. The two aeroplanes on the field are owned by the Guinea Gold Company and tue Bulolo Goldfield Aerial Transport Company. Distance is direct airline is 42 miles, against 80 overland, but flying conditions are irregular, due to cloud, fog and the intervening mountains. Parachutes lor Aii Passengers. Captain Duncan, of Civil Aviation, has inspected and located emergency landings, but as yet these are impracticable, being unmarked, and covered with long grass, which would overturn and wreck any plane that found them. In such circumstances, Mr. Booth considers the Government should insist upon parachutes for passengers, to avoid inevitable tragedy through a forced landing. Mr. Booth shares the opinion of other New Guinea pioneers, that the authorities discriminate unfairly agamst whites in pampering the natives. Illustrations quoted are commutation of sentence of death upon the murderer of a white man to five years' goal, fine of £5 upon a white who boxed the ears'of a native boy caught plucking a live fowl, and a fine of £2 against a steamship officer who chastised a native boy for throwing a bucketful of coal dust over his white suit. In each case the Bench admitted thaf the defendants had acted under provocation. The Government insists upon native employment only under indenture, but it if complained when an indentured labourei absconds the Government makes but feeble efforts to recover him and return him to his contract.