GOLD AND OIL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 437, 19 May 1937, Page 2

GOLD AND OIL

SEARCH IN PAPUA Many Parties At Work . . . Sydney, 'May 11. Details of the gold-seeking expedition which Mr. Jack Hides is leading into unexplore’d Western Papua, on behalf of Investors, Limited, «a Sydney company, were given by Mr. R. W Robson, who arrived in Sydney from Port Moresby yesterday. “Mr Hides and Mr Lyall have prospected a section of the Upper Strickland River which has not yet been mapped,” Laid Mr. Robson, “and they have discovered gold, in small quantities, over a considerable area. As a result of this, they went to Port Moresby by seaplane a fortnight ago, and applied for a dredging claim covering 5 square miles. Infested wP i Crocodiles. and oil.prospecting parties are out in all parts of Western Papua at present, and communication is being maintained with the various parties by small, portable radio sets, land by seaplanes. There were three seaplanes in Port Moresby when the steamer left last week. ‘‘The seapiaoe pi’cis aie doing re. markable work. The country is- only partly explored, and is covered with dense jungle, and there are no landing grounds for aeroplanes. But it is intersected by rivers and lakes, and the prospecting parties make their bases near the\o waters. The sea_ 1 a*.--- pilots ki.: v a most uncanny skill in. finding them. “The pilots bring their craft down on streams flowing at a rate of as much as &ix knots, and :hey sometdnies have an exciting time. Logs come down the rivers, big enough to wreck the seaplanes, and the waters are infested with c. ucoMes. The pilots say that the crocodiles are s.een far up the rivers. Some of them 10ft 'and 12ft long have been seen in large streams 5000 ft above sea-level. Native Labour at Premium. “Mr. Hides, on his journey up the Strickland, visited the chain of lakes )f which the principal is Lake Murray, and found a very Large and ger_ orally • friendly population. He had the pleasure of visiting one important chief just when a raiding party returned triumphantly, wittti 38 Zreshly-se vered h> t.js. “The search for oil in Papua has given a great Stimulus to business in the Territory,” said Mr. Robson. “The three major companies—Papuan Oi 1 Developments, Limited, Island Exploration, Limited, and Oil Research, Limited— each has a largo organisation, and is maintaning a growing number of field parties, which have to be provided with food, equipment, and transport. The result is that small ships, experienced bOshmen, and native labour, are at a premium. It is almost impossible, at present, to charter a small coastal vessel, or to nire experienced native labourers.”