THE GRANITE’S GOLDFIELD

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1932, Page 9

THE GRANITE’S GOLDFIELD

“WASHOUT” SAYS ENGINEER. PLIGHT OF UNEMPLOYED MEN. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Nov. 22. Mr. C. G. Gibson, a Sydney mining engineer and geologist, expressed the view, following what he termed a good general - overhaul of the country, that The Granites gold field in Central Australia was “an absolute washout.” He added that nearly all the Victorian companies interested in the field had abandoned their options. An Alice Springs message says that, unemployed men whose resources have, been exhausted in an attempt to reach The Granites are increasing in numbers. They are anxiously awaiting a reply from Canberra to requests for free railway passes to return to Adelaide, OPINION OF GEOLOGIST. “BOOM NOT WARRANTED.” In a preliminary report on the Granites goldfield in Central Australia, Professor C. T. Madigan, geologist and leader of the Sydney Sun-Telegraph expedition to , the field, says that the recent boom was not warranted by new developments. There was nothing to be seen to raise beyond the realms of possibility the chances of the Granites providing an important field. - Professor Madigan makes no attempt, yet, to assess the value of the field. He says he will furnish a technical report later, and in this -will give me result of his geological investigations. Following is Professor Madigan’s preliminary report. “I have met with the greatest frankness and most cordial assistance from all on the field—prospectors, miners, and company representatives. I am permitted to go where I choose and sample as I will. For the past 16 months about a dozen prospectors have been working at the Granites. A store was opened on the field for them in April of this year. In that time they had produced about 400 ounces of gold, won almost entirely from half an acre of ground. NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS. “Much of the gold won came from dry blowing the alluvial in a gutter up a hillside for about 70-yards,-when a small, rich quartz vein was. struck’ and two Shafts, each about 30'feet. deep and 25 feet apart, were sunk on the leader. The men in the shafts were dollying up the material from the leader, and others continued dry blowing.’ During the past year they could not be said to be mak-; ing more than their tucker. This Was the position when the boom—for boom it; undoubtedly ‘ was—started. '.; “There have been no new' developments on the field during the past six. months to warrant a boom. The prospectors who were working the claims have all departed except twor-rather bewildered at the sudden turn events have taken, but having thoroughly earned their option money by their years of toil in this desert. “No development work of any sig? nificance has been, done since the prospectors left, but at least one company, with a very capable manager, has just started large scale prospecting work on approved lines. The Government well, three miles south-east of the Granites, has been deepened to 100 ft, and is said to supply 1700 gallons a day. The water is rather highly charged With sulphates, but assures drinking water for the present population. Two unsuccessful bores have been..put down for water. Reports that rich gold was found in the well or bores appear to be without foundation. ■ REMARKABLE OPTIMISM. “Traces of gold may be found in many localities within 50 miles of the Granites, but, with the exception of the one place worked by the prospectors, the position is as Allan Davidson,left it. in 190 u. Some thousands of acres have been pegged out without any justification beyond optimism, many of the leases being on spinifex plains, and in the majority, of i cases nothing has been done on them, . nor is being done. To . assess the; possibilities of this vast region on the meagre

evidence available is providing a difficult task.

“The available small shafts, costeens and dumps have been sampled; the pan is being freely used on surface prospects* and the general geological Work is progressing satisfactorily. ... . ; “It is dangerous for men to attempt to come up here unless they have a definite engagement.” A message from Alice Springs, sent the Sun-Telegraph representative on November 6, states: “We were delayed two days in the middle of the desert while bringing in the preliminary ' report from: Professor Madigan. Three city, men in a utility truck started out from the Granites full of hope, but a faulty petrol system decided otherwise. So did also four punctures and a leaky water drum. We passed 20 motor vehicles on Our three and a half days’ trip. They must have carried at least 80 men to the field. “Conditions at the Granites when we left were not heartening for men not actually engaged for work. There were about 30 unemployed all last week. Some were running short of food, and most were absolutely unequipped for the fields There seems to be no official restraint on men leaving Alice Springs for. the Granites.” DISHEARTENING CONDITIONS. The writer continues: “Sickness is increasing at the Granites. There is not one medical officer among the 200 men on the field. There is no strict control of the field by the Federal Government, nor any camp routine on the field. The-men do not bother much about the disposal .of refuse. Consequently there come flies, dust and tropical dysentery. . The Government medical officer at Alice Springs, Dr. Brown,, has not seen the field since the big influx. He laid down regulations when he visited the field, most of which have been cheerfully broken. “The sick list is steadily increasing. Barcoo rot is extensive because of the weakened condition of the blood. The water has sent three men into- Auce Springs for a long period of convalescence. Men are content to sit mtns sun fighting the flies as they eat. There is little provision for washing, and practically none for a bath. W'ater is too precious, soap cannot be used. Mr. Ken Stewart, of Woodford Station, on the way to Pine Hills and Coniston Stations, has begun transporting live sheep weekly to the field, a run of about 260 miles. The working gangs will btj able tlien to. haves, roast hot. XKieaS. «oe| r « : - • - • : > 5 - 1