GOLD PROSPECTING AT NEW GUINEA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 16, 19 January 1878, Page 2

GOLD PROSPECTING AT NEW GUINEA.

tiKTllKli news of gold disco series nxo cnnsing attention to l>c again directed to -NcwGuinea. The numerous efforts which within the pact two or three years have won mode by explorers to open the great b land of the Papuans tb European settle* ment are non receiving an impetus which ail! he more ctfeetual than any other that 131,1 ottered in the shape of inducement t" adventurous explore)-. Ahonl a couple "I ago telegram- auneiimed that

gold bad been diaeovred bi the neighbor* bood of Geelrak'l Riy, which is :i dwp bight going far into tho land, and rendering tho north-eastern end of the i>laml a |>eiiinsula. Full particulars of the discovery have not yet been received ; but, evidently tin- potMMlon of that wealth in minerals with which New • luinCß h:us been credited for some years, is now being proved. To-day we publish • able messages from AiLstralia, whicli announce that troth gold discoveries have been made iu New Guinea. If these continue, the warmth of the torrid zone and the reported unhoulthiness of climate will not deter men, pos.ses.siug that venturous spirit whicli lies at the root of modern colonisation, from tarring their fortunes in a region but littlo known ; but the masterful passion for gold will mako men bravo duugers which few other things would tempt them to face. In both Australia and Now Zealand religious bodies have urged that the British Government should assume the protectorate of New Guinea, and if these gold discoveries are found to be rich and the gold plentiful, as has been reported, another incentive, beyond those of a political and Imperial nature, presents itself in favor of early annexation. Curiously enough the subject of New Guinea camo to the surface in connection with the Ministerial visit to tho Thames. A deputation of miners waited on the Premier, and requested that action should be taken in sending a feuexperienced miners to " prospect " for gold on that island. It seems that while Sir George Grey was Superintendent a similar application had been made to him. On that occasion ho wrote to the Royal Geographical Society, asking its directors to provide for the h'tting out of a party, and received a reply to the etl'ect that tho Society would not undertake to bear tho whole cost of the expedition, but would givo a subsidy in aid of tho expense. This application has now boen renowod by certain of the Thames miners, who spoke to tho Premier on Saturday on tho subject, and requested Government assistance. Sir George Grey asked the, party to submit a statement in writing which will be done, and will be considered by tho Government. We should imagino now, however, that seeing that already discoveries of Gold have been mndo in Now Guinea, the proposed prospectors are forestalled, not to mention the fact that it is rather improbable that tho Government of this colon)' would supply funds to prospect for gold in another and a distant country, which is not oven a British possession, and send good miners out of the Colony for that purpose. If prospecting is to I'C paid for by the Government of New Zealand, business prudence would suggest that tho prospecting should take place within New Zealand's own territory, where gold may probably be but is not yet found. Obviously, according to late news, the fitting out of a gold prospecting expedition to New Guinea would lie a work of supererogation. The gold has been found.-" Auckland Weekly News," Jan. 3.