NEW GUINEA GOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1933, Page 6

NEW GUINEA GOLD

MACHINERY CARRIED BY AIR. PROGRESS ON BULOLO FIELD. The remarkable feat of carrying heavy goldmining machinery by aeroplane into the hinterland of New Guinea was referred to by Mr. W. A. Freeman, chairman of directors of the Bulolo Gold Dredging Company, who was a through passengef by the Mariposa for Honolulu, in the course of a world tour. Mr. Freeman said the machinery, which comprised the parts for building the gold dredges, was carried by aeroplane from Salamoa, on the coast, to the Bulolo Company’s field, which was 70 miles inland. The largest single piece of machinery to be carried weighed three tons, and the flights took place over mountainous country. A bull and a cow had also been carried over the route. Although critics had said the task could not be accomplished, the programme of construction had followed the time schedule and kept within the estimates. The capital expenditure on the undertaking to date was about £600,000, and he thought another £lOO,OOO would suffice for the completion of the programme. The total yield for the month ended on January 1 was 8496 ounces of bullion from 422,500 cubic yards 'of material. The value of the yield was 114,696 gold dollars. The working costs to date, excluding royalty, averaged less than six gold cents a yard.. There were already two dredges at work on the property, with a third being erected and a fourth in the builder’s yard. The property would be fully equipped by about April or May next year.