The New Guinea Expedition.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2930, 6 July 1878, Page 2

The New Guinea Expedition.

The following particulars concerning the movements of the gold - seeking expedition to New Guinea were telegraphed on Monday last to the Sydney Evening News by its correspondent at Cooktown i— By the aivival of the Prospect and the Normanby we have later advices direct

from New Guinea and byway of Thursday Island. Important and most interesting news is now to hand. The prospecting party had left the Laloki Eiver aud gone on to another stream, where they were working when the vessel had left. They reported payable gold not yet discovered, and they were still hampered by the fever, which had stricken down twenty-two, but had not resulted fatally in any one ease. The men were of the opinion that they had passed through the ordeal, as an improvement was beginning j to show itself in the condition of the ! men. While some of them were pros- j pecting, others were engaged cutting a road through the thick underbush ' into the interior. The Laloki country; was very wet, and not much prospecting had been done. Good order still prevailed among the prospectors, and the^.most friendly relations were maintained.-with the natives. Various vessels from Gooktown are on the coast of the island, all doing well at their beche-de-mer filiations. The Economist had left Port Moresby for Thursday Isknd, and the Ellangowan had arrived there. The latter bvougat on the two well-knovrn characters, Annie Smith and Jessie Ormanstin, who would accompany the Economist passengers to New Guinea. The diggers as previously reported, were very glad to get rid of t*em; Captain Eedlich believes that the natives of Brooke Island will soon expend all the ammunition they stole in their murderous raid on the station there, and then he will remain with a stray party to attempt to get back his property. Another interesting letter has been received here by Mr A. Kaudin from Mr W. M.Craig, who say s: —" lam happy to inform you that we are safely arrived here by the Prospeoi on ; the 6th inst. The weather, we are told, has just taken a change. We had an excellent view of the coast f s we entered the port. The country is far more beautiful tban any other I have teen in all my travels, not excepting Qur ensland. The coast trees are stuntjd, but Lave thick foliage, and the ..hills are sparsely timbered, with patches of cerub here and there, giving them a most enchanting appearance. Taken altogether, Port Moresby would be a nice place for a city, and I hope to see one here yet, if not| some where convenient. The fashion among the native men is to wear ornaments alone, but the women are modestly attired in a kilt, which does not protect them much from the sun. They are very good-looking, but small in stature. The islanders regard the arrival of the whites with the greatest unconcern, but they are very anxious to obtain toka (tobacco), which even the little ones prefer to anything else. I cannot give much information about the interior, as :I have not yet gone far inland. AH the Europeans are now away up the country with the exception of two, who were forced to return through an attack _of fever. They soon recovered, however, and started back again. Up to the present only a fine colour of gold has been found by the party high up the river, about 40 miles. There are several dep6ts between Port Moresby and their camp. There has been a good deal of sickness, but I understand all are quite or nearly right again." The very latest and most important news is contained in a private letter to Mr Bailey, of the Cooktown Herald. The writer says :—" I send you all the most important news I can get. Though the diggers keep matters very quiet, I can tell you that they got gold two days from Port Moresby. Mr Goldie went «6 far with them, but they split up among themselves, one party not wishing him to go any further, as they did not want him to come in with any news. They earnestly wish to keep their discoveries secret as long as they can. Mr Goldie consequently left, and returned to Port Moresby. I tell you that the discorery of good gold is an accomplished fact, but be careful of a crowd, coming here. Two hundred men would do well at present to test the field, which stretches from 30 lo 75 miles from the coast. There is no water at Pqrt Moresby."