GOLD IN NEW GUINEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1926, Page 11

GOLD IN NEW GUINEA.

FORMER RESIDENT’S VIEW. PROSPECTS OF THE FIELD. Mr. John A. Spencer writes as follows: to the Auckland Herald in reference to the reports of the discovery of gold in New Guinea: — “It occurs to the writer who, for some 12 years has been closely associated with the geological and general conditions obtaining in ex-German New Guinea—now the° mandated territory of New Guinea —that some first-hand information may be of service to any adventurous New Zealand men who may be contcjnplating trying their luck on the goldfiejds. Gold has been known to exist on thk Waria and Markham rivers for many years, and was spasmodically worked by the Germans with varying success. White men from Papua, who were well-known to the writer, used to cross ever from near Kerema, in the Gulf Division, to the Morobe district, in then German New Guinea, and Taked in much gold of it ...somewhat inferior kind. ■ Jt was a commonplace saying in Papua , that no one need be short of money : if they took the trouble to do a little hard work on the W aria River. “The writer made the trip from near Kerema to the Waria River on two occasions. ft took 15 days to accomplish tlie journey on each occasion, and a rou°her trip it would be difficult to find in any part of the world. The distance was about 120 miles, which will give some idea of the travelling conditions. The native tribes were exceedingly hostile, but this risk is now to a great extent eliminated owing to the Government intervention. “A close friend of the writer, Jack Nettleton, who was formerly a native police master in Madang, went to the Waria River in 1922, and after 18 months on the goldfields he deposited ana received a cheque for gold to the value of £33,000 from the Rabaul Bank. His partner, W. Park, known as Billy Park, was reputed to have done even better. The latter has just left Australia with a party of ‘foseikere,’ and sensational finds may be expected for Park knows the ropes as few men do.

“The main difficulty is the securing of native labour to carry and work the gold, for it should be borne In mind that the climate is very trying, and white men cannot undertake sustained labour, rever attacks most whites, sooner or later, and it is advisable to limit one’s stay to not more than two years at a stretch. No trouble need now be apprehended from hostile natives, who are well under control, and murders are tew and tar between. “The writer has no hesitation in recommending men 01 strong physique, lontl of adventure, and who are prepared to roimh it, to pack up and make for New Guinea. Their beet route is to Sydney, thence to Rabaul by one of Burns, Philp’s steamers. Rabaul is the seat of Government, and all claims, licenses, etc., are dealt with there. Morobe is 350 miles Irom Ta<" ! ’ul and is the starting-off place for the r-ildfields. Several recent letters to hand from the Morobe district testify to the big finds of gold, and all are emphatic that sensational developments are pending. No one should entertain the idea of starting for the fields unless he. lias sufficient money to pay for labour for at least, three months.