GOLD MINING EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 2906, 19 April 1878, Page 3

GOLD MINING EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

The following communication has been addressed to the Sydney Echo• The paragraph under the above heading having reference to .the sailing of the 'Colonist' with a party of enterprising gold diggers is so incorrect and the tone so disparaging to the adventure that we are induced to ask you to publish the following:—

The paragraph states,—" There seems to be no organisation about the party— that no horses are taken or boats provided," &c. We desiro to say there is considerable organisation, and that precautions have been taken to provide for every casualty that human foresight CBn devise, A superior boat is provided and horses will be taken, but not from Sydney, when thoy can be shipped at Cooktown fresh and within one quarter of the entire voyage to perform. Had this been a Government organisation we should probably Lave had a large amount of red tape and a multiplicity of officials, whichinvariably ends in quarrelling, disaffection, and not infrequently mutiny. (Witness Pott Darwin and other Government ex ; peditions.) Gold diggers understand each other and will hold together for mutual protection, can trust one another/and will support law and order where' no law exists better than any officials. This party will appoint- their own leader at Cooktown._ This is a private expedition,' which, if it .succeeds (and is there anything accomplished without risk), will have neither Press nor anyone else to thank. If failure attends an attempt to open up a country that has long invited exploration, its members will be the Bufferers. They should rather be encouraged than written down. To such adventurous spirits England owes the possession of her colonies.

There appears to be some dread of any attempt to colonise New Guinea ; but; from past experience, we should rather dread our'own land. Several parties have traversed New_ Guinea, and all confirm the friendly disposition of the natives when treated with any fairness. A popu« lar impression exists that the Maria expedition came to grief on the New Guinea coast; —the truth is that it never reached its destination, but was wrecked on the Queensland coast, and its people, without any provocation, killed and eaten by the aboriginals. The men forming the present expedi-. tion have reliable sources of information, although not obtainable from the missionaries, who would appear unwilling that the pick and shovel should civilise this new. land. Mr Goldie seems to be somewhat, alarmed that his statements respecting the discovery of gold will mislead. We can remove his anxiety by stating that ■ this expedition is not in any way influenced by him, nor will his letter (published more than once in the Sydney Morning Herald) deter its members from using their own judgment in matters of which they are the best judges. The time has arrived for the colonisation of this new field, not only for gold adventures, but for the planter, squatter, and miner. Modern experience points to the discovery of gold as the only likely method of civilising New Guinea. The missionaries may use their beneficent influence,, they may secure valuable possessions in' land, for which no one can blame them;, but it will be long , ere their exertions, however exemplary, will give undoubted, security to settlers. Commerce and. enterprise such as that now budding in this small but energetic band of gold-miners, is the true key to the solution of this question. ■