"GOLDEN EAGLE"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 60, 6 February 1931, Page 3

"GOLDEN EAGLE"

WESTRALIA'S GOLD NUGGET. VALUED AT £5600 AND WEIGHS 11230 Z. FOR WORLD EXHIBITION. SYDNEY, January 23. Scenes of great enthusiasm marked the finding of the "Golden Eagle" gold nugget at Larkinville, near Kalgoorlie, West Australia, last week-end. It is the biggest nugget of gold found in West Australia, being more than twice the size of the former recordholder, the "Bobby Dazzler." A 17-year-old lad, James Joseph Larcombe, found the mass of gold while digging in a roadway leading to the home of his father on their claim at Larkinville. He let out a terrific yell, and when neighbours heard his cry they thought he had injured himself in some way, and rushed to his assistance. Instead they found him frantically trying to hoist the nugget on his shoulder. There was great excitement thenceforward. All work was stopped in the town and surrounding claims, and hundreds came to the spot to view the find. As no scales were available on which to weigh the nugget, it was strung on a pole against a 601 b bag of sugar, but it easily outswung that. Later it was found that the slug weighs 11230 z (fine), and that, with the premium, it is worth £5600. It was announced yesterday that the Government of West Australia had made an offer to the owner of the nugget, and that, if accepted, the Government will arrange for it to be taken round the world on exhibition, in order to encourage capital investment in West Australian gold mines. The finding of the "Golden Eagle" was the culmination of a sensational week at Larkinville, for several other prospectors in the district made substantial finds of gold, none, of course,, coming anywhere near the young Larcombe's. When news of the find reached Kalgoorlie and other West Australian mining centres many prospectors In those towns packed up their belongings and started out for the new field. A State Government mining expert is now on the spot, and special investigations into the possibility of developing the field are being made.