BULOLO GOLDFIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20039, 4 March 1927, Page 10

BULOLO GOLDFIELD

THE ED IE CREEK LEASES. ROYAL COMMISSION TO INQUIRE. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, March 3. In the Senate it was announced that the Ministry was appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the circumstances of granting mining leases in the Morobe district of New Guinea. As tho result of an official proclamation that prospectors were not allowed to seek gold on tho leases held by the syndicate known as the “Big Four,” at Edie Creek, about 70 miners, or 90 per cent, of those loft on the field, invaded tho leases in November last, and washed for gold. At their request tho police watched the proceedings, and took tho men’s names. The gold was afterwards lodged at the warden’s office, and the miners requested Mr Bruce to hold an official inquiry regarding the leases which they had invaded. It is alleged by the Morobe Minors’ Association 'that four large leases, containing nearly all the alluvial ground on the field, were applied for by the discoverers on the ground that the field was suitable only for sluicing and dredging, and that the applications were approved by the warden, although it was shown that the field was suitable for alluvial working by box and dish. A mining warden, who was despatched from Brisbane in December last, dismissed the claims, deciding in favour of the original leaseholders.