FIJI GOLDFIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 68, 22 March 1935, Page 8

FIJI GOLDFIELD

PRODUCTION AT PROFIT. EASY ACCESS A FEATURE. A’IS IT OF MR. E. G. BANKS. The opinion that the goldmining field at present being developed in Fiji would probably prove a larger producer of gold at profit was expressed recently by Mr. E. G. Banks formerly superintendent of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and now a consulting engineer in Melbourne. Mr. Banks "was a through passenger the Aorangi, at Auckland, having spent a short time on the field investigating prospects for the Tavua Gold Options, Limited. ‘•The field is wonderfully accessible,” said Mr. Banks, “and can be reached by a good road from Suva in six hours, while all the mining gear can be shipped to Lautoka, and taken up by rail to within a short distance of the actual mines. From the mines one looks down to the sea, a feature that reminded me very much of Waihi. Development is going on steadily and the day I left a number of miners had arrived from Australia to work the Loloma and Koroere areas.” The whole area was very interesting, Mr. Banks stated and presented its own peculiar problems. He expressed his surprise that such a promising field had been so long unworked, though recent development of access had made a great difference. He thought, after studying the whole position at dose quarters, that the administration of the field would be greatly assisted by the appointment of a competent mining warden.

Mr. Banks also issued a warning to those who might be tempted to seek work on the field. Applicants for employment would have to be prepared for very different conditions to those in New Zealand. A substantial deposit would be demanded on landing to prevent a number of outsiders becoming a burden on the community. All the mining labour was being done by Fijians and the mechanical side was in the hands of Indians. White men would only be required as supervisors and would need to be highly experienced. Actually no man should think of going to the field unless he had a definite appointment before leaving New Zealand.