LATEST COOKTOWN AND NEW GUINEA NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2828, 8 March 1878, Page 3

LATEST COOKTOWN AND NEW GUINEA NEWS.

(t'BOH THE T. AND C. JOtJBNAL, FEB. 23.) [By Telegbaph.] Cooktoytn, Wednesday. The mail steamer is off Cook town. The Atjeh left at 9 o'clock, and the Ocean this afternoon. The mornings are beautifully fine ; at. night, generally heavy rains. Mrs Smith, passenger by the Bowen, has a splendid pair of New Guinea pigeons from Celibes, for the Sydney Museum. ...... The Sisters Ford (3) are returning to Sydney after five, years' dramatic tour in India. Mr Moreton, one of Goldic's party, and who has been collecting for the Sydney Museum, has with him specimens of alluvial and quartz from New Guinea. Ho has two phials of black sand, containing specimens of gold, and one other with ecaly specs of alluvial. He reports that he left Mr Goldio at Port Moresby, unable to do anything in consequence of the wet season having thoroughly set in ; and, until the end of May, nothing can he done. Mr Moreton says the Bertha's report is totally untrue, as that vessel left before Mr Goldie found the gold. Moreton distinctly says there is a splendid field for prospectors, but decidedly repudiates the idea of any payable gold being discovered up to the present. He says

where the waters of the river receded, he got sand by haudsfull in tho awioes in the rocks and from this got prospects. Tho party never sank ; nil the prospects were from the surface Thi-y followed up the riv.-r, and as they urnt it got richer, and at tho last j/i.tco the dish was strewn with scaly specs varying in size. Captain DudhVhVs missionary schooner Mayri was fearfully injured by niggers at New Guiiien. South Cape. Fears are entertained for the safety of the l{ er , _. Chalmers, wife, and family ; also oi' tho Ellaugowan, missionary steamer. The Ocean takes eighty Chinese and a quantity of gold, eighty tons sandal wood, fifty beech lcmer. The Ocean reports tremendous northern current.