TO SEEK GOLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 888, 4 February 1930, Page 16

TO SEEK GOLD

MINERS FOR NEW GUINEA WAIHI MAN’S EXPERIENCES From. Our O-ujtt Correspondent PAEROA, Today. An old Waihi miner, Mr. A. J. Delaney. who is now under engagement to the New Guinea Goldfields Co., Ltd., has returned to Waihi to select miners to take to New Guinea. Mr. Delaney told The Sun correspondent that mining conditions in New Guinea are quite different to those at Waihi and Ohinemuri. Strict conditions are made with regard to importing miners into the mandated territory. Miners going to the goldfields are called upon to deposit £SOO, which is lodged with the Government, and a further bond ol £SO must be given as a guarantee of good character. These stringent conditions are made to ensure honesty among prospectors. Little or no gold robberies take place in New Guinea among the miners. Mr. Delaney said he landed at Salamoa, which has a sale landing, and was the port for Eddie Creek. The place had grown wonderfully since he landed. There were many shops and dwellings and a number of hotels, but most miners are shy ol the latter, as beer is 6s a bottle and whisky £l. Since the opening of the goldfield, airplanes were much used as a means of transport. Mr. Delaney, on going to New Guinea, took up prospecting for reefs and discovered several good lodes. The New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd., has about 100 men prospecting. Many men are engaged in alluvial mining, and each man is allowed a claim of 200 feet long by 100 feet wide. There was a. good outlook for miners who inhabited the centre of the island. On the goldfields it costs a man £l2 a month for supplies, for the most part tinned goods. Mr. Delaney mentioned he met several miners from Thames. Waihi and Karangahake. while quite a number were from Auckland.