Assistance in Hidden Valley gold mining environmental issues

By DR GAE GOWAE

 

Thank you Robin for your well-received views and offer to assist.

 Indeed the political insinuation is there, but regardless of who provides the financial support, the scientific nature and the credibility of the findings are what we need. This is why either by outside consultants or Morobe elites, the appropriate technical expertise and experience is needed to undertake this study.

 The cost for such study is enormous, and political support either through Tutumang (Morobe provincial assembly) or individual MPs is required, as long as the report of the findings is credible and transparent; whatever political achievement is up to the people's judgement.

 The idea of us Morobe elites assisting is to do it at reduced cost, particularly to cut down on the consultant fees.

 The report by Mr Michael Kiap is worth accessing, but interestingly, why were such findings never publicized?

 However, given the recent problems as seen on the TV and the circulation of the video clips of the area, it is worth untaking an independent study to ascertain all those allegations.

 Your suggestion of Tutumang submission for financial support is well taken and in fact I have already suggested the idea to landowners’ association interim president, which requires the local level government presidents' support and endorsement.

This too will required technical expertise advice and assistance in putting together the submission.

 I have Ms Finkewe Zurenuoc, who has enormous experience in mining industry, already offering her assistance and you in hydrology, which is great.

We need a few more and then we can look at logistic support to get together and plan this study including the costing.

 

Kind regards,

 

G.Gowae

 

Watut River issue a sensitive one

From ROBIN YALAMBING

 

The environment issue regarding Watut River system is a very-sensitive one that needs to be handled very carefully. 

I support the idea to have a study done to determine if the new mine is actually causing health problems to our people living along the river, however,  it is important that proper professional studies and investigation be carried out with the findings made without bias or influenced by local politics. 

This will call for the undivided support of the governor Wenge and the member for Bulolo Mr Basil.

They should put real money into this study for the interest of the people whose lives may be at greater risk than we assume. 

You need the full endorsement of the Morobe Provincial Government (Tutumang) and Bulolo district joint district planning and budget priorities committee (JDPC) to carry out this study so that it is official and recognised.

Doing it on a volunteer basis can be a big effort and demanding and can become frustrating if support is not given from our leaders.

For you information, I come from Latep village which is situated some 20km downstream from Hidden Valley gold and dependent on Watut river for washing, fishing and mining.

Some years back, in early 2000, a lecturer at Unitech by the name of Michael Kiap, a chemist by profession, carried out some studies on the effects of mercury on the lives of small alluvial miners along the Watut River and I think Bulolo River as well.

From what I was told by him, large amounts of mercury were present in bodies of some men who had come in constant contact with this metal during the course of their mining activities.

One actually died in my village.

Now that should give you something to begin with.

You could start at Unitech analysis lab as I believe Michael's data will be there in the records.

 For the hydrology study, I can help you there, but I will need time and that is a problem for me as at present, I am based in Sydney but come and go for short-term jobs here in PNG.

 I wish you all the best endeavor in this important task.

 

Watut River communities want answers about Hidden Valley mine pollution

By MALUM NALU

Minister for Environment and Conservation Benny Allan and his secretary Dr Wari Iamo have been asked to explain to mining-affected communities along the Watut River of Morobe province to explain how the environment audit of Hidden Valley Mine will be conducted.

The Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) said the river people had patiently waited for the minister’s commitment to fufil but nothing had eventuated.

“The UoWRC has also blamed the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), Department of Mining and the Health Department for ignoring the suffering of the silent majority by allowing the foreign-owned Harmony Gold and Newcrest Mining to regulate their own action in the Hidden Valley Mining,” said UoWRC president Reuben Mete.

“The UoWRC has now served a 14-day notice starting Friday, Sept 24 to Friday, Oct 8, for the authorities to respond favorably to their request of having an initial collaborative dialogue as soon as possible or they would refrain from working with the government and will address the issues their own way.”

In a letter to Allan dated Sept 20, 2010, Mete said their disappointments were well-echoed by Harmony chief executive Graham Briggs on Oct 26, 2009, admitting that “higher-than-expected sediment impacts in the Watut River had affected the Watut River communities”.

“The Hidden Valley Gold Mining Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approved by your department, which predicted that sediment load in the Watut River during construction will be of minimum, is now of great concern for the riverine communities who entirely rely on the Watut River,” he said.

“This now leads us to question the credibility of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the manner in which they have taken in the issuing of the environmental permit to the Hidden Valley Gold Mine for construction and operation.

“The issuing of the environmental permit by the DEC and mining license (ML) 151 by the Department of Mining granted in March 2005, eight months before the actual approval of the environmental management plan (EMP) by the DEC in Nov 2005 indicated that the DEC has issued the riverine communities with a ‘death warrant’.”

Mete told Allan that a letter to UoWRC by his department dated Oct 1, 2009, assured the Watut River communities that a state team comprising DEC and MRA would review all their claims as per their petition dated Sept 11, 2009.

He said DEC and MRA said they would advise on ways which the government could address their concerns both currently and into the future “which has now been a completely-misleading assurance to us as to this date, nothing constructive by your department nor the MRA or the so called ‘state team’ have materialised”.

“Also, lack of detailed response provided to the Watut river communities within the available 12-month period timeframe, lack of reviews and/or investigation of all of our allegations as per the initial petition last September, reflect how your department and the other relevant government agencies have turned a blind eye on us, the rural people at the bottom in this matter, to amicably address it,” Mete said.

“In addition to this, an environmental audit commission by your department to review the environmental performance of Hidden Valley Mine and investigate those concerns raised on the effects of mine-derived sediment awarded to the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) on Watut River systems is now a wonder to us as we are now into six months past the set date of Feb 22, 2010.

“We would therefore appreciate if your department and other relevant government agencies such as the Department of Mining and MRA could hold an initial collaborative dialogue with us, the UoWRC executives, as soon as possible to find a common way to resolve our concerns within 14 days given period.

“A joint attention through dialogue and understanding is needed as the Watut River communities cannot be patient and be cooperative after the given date.”

Hidden Valley gold mining environmental issues

By DR GAE GOWAE

 

Thank you brother Benjamin (below) and dear all,

Given the costs involved to put together technical experts, we could go step-by-step.

Our immediate task would be to get some immediate results through soil and water sample analysis, to ascertain the level of chemicals discharged as part of the waste management excercise by the company.

At least three sample analysis at different time interval to study the trend of the level of chemicals.

This will give us some ideas for next phase of study, which will require further technical expertise, in particular to study the design and implementation of the environmental plan by the company.

We are up against a multi-million company so we need study and results.

 

Dr GAE GOWAE

University of Papua New Guinea

 

Hidden Valley gold mining environmental issues

From BENJAMIN PANGA

 

Dear all,

Call from Dr Gae Gowae (below) is a challenging one,

We saw it all and heard about it all from Ok Tedi, nothing is secret or new.

This is just a beginning.

Two MPs are divided?

Uncalled for!

 Government to fund such study?

 Not promising!

 If landowners’ association wants some results, sooner option for volunteers is most likely, with little assistance still from landowners’ association.

Quick survey /study in reported cases areas only may require environmentalists and applied chemists to begin with as a preliminary finding.

Detailed planning and seeking additional assistance upon preliminary findings.

I encourage Morobeans who could help to contact Dr Gowae.
This is your opportunity to broaden your expertise and experience, especially to work along with two highly-qualified professionals.

Hidden Valley gold mining environmental issues

By DR GAE GOWAE

 

Dear all,

This is a challenge to us Morobeans.

 The plight of the people affected by the Hidden Valley gold mining needs immediate attention by concerned Morobeans. 

You may have watched this on the EMTV Tok Piksa sometimes last month where people developed skin diseases and are scared to wash in the river where the waste system from the mining company is connected.

Few deaths occurred in children while adults are struggling with the disease.

Also garden areas now under water and slowly turning into swamp areas as a result of high sedimentation believed to be from the waste discharge from the mining causing high water table and runoffs.

 This never happened before until after the mining operation started.

 Both Hon. Sam Basil and Governor Luther Wenge have pledged their financial support for an independent team of scientists to investigate the cause.

 However, to date nothing has come forth from neither member, simply because of political differences. 

Sam Basil is trying to engage a University of PNG team which includes me while Luther Wenge is trying to engage his own team with me as the team leader. However, the total cost of the whole exercise (from Upper Watut to the mouth of Markham river and Labu Buttu village) require combine amounts from both MPs. This is becuse the engagement of the team will be through consultancy work arrangements and the fees are relatively high in the case of UPNG.

 Meanwhile landowners association from the area is up caught up between these differences.

The landowners’ association simply wants an independent team to udentake the study, regardless of which team, but need money to engage a team.

Neither MP will release the money to the landowners’ association because both MPs want to deal directly with the investigation team for political milage purposes. 

 I am also now caught up between these political differences, because of my association with the teams to undertake the study.

The study needs to be undetaken thoroughly because of the size of the area and that we are up against a multi-million company, and our findings need to be credible.

 To cut down the costs I now want to undertake the study outside consultancy work (volunteer basis) but I will need certain specific expertise in mining and waste engineering, hydraulogist, aquatic biologist, and an applied chemist among the Morobeans to come foward and assist.

The major cost component in this case will be for water and soil samples to be analysed at the Unitech analysis laboratory.

The other cost components will include the logistic support (transportation, accommodation, etc.), and travelling allowances.

 I am now negotiating this option with the landowners’ association leaders.

Any ideas or technical assistance from the Morobeans will be greatly appreciated.

Associate professor Eric Kwa and I are working together in this case.

 I welcome any thoughts or ideas from those of you Morobeans out there to assist our people who are now the victims of the so-called economic development activities.

 

Dr. Gae Gowae

Senior Lecturer

Environmental Sciences

UPNG 

Lutheran Jabem district youth conference held in Buang

By Pastor SAKARIA MALELAK

Post-graduate student

Martin Luther Seminary

 A week-long Lutheran Jabem district youth conference came to an end in Bulandem parish, Buang circuit today.

Pr Gedisa Okamaisa delivering his speech.

The conference started last Monday September 20 and ended today.

It finished on a high note with Malalo circuit who won the bid to host the 2011 Jabem district youth conference.

Conference participants came from all 14 circuits that make up Jabem district including Kaiapit, Sangan, Wantoat, Wampar, Lae, Lae City, Laulu, Deka, Jabem, Malalo, Buang, Menyamya, Aseki and Kaintiba.

A total of 600 participants attended this conference.

Fog covers the conference area

The theme of the conference was “Wokabaut wantaim bilong ol bilip man meri insait long pasin bilong laikim (Walking with faith and love).

Bulolo MP Sam Basil was invited to declare the winners of the newly-elected executives with Araba Saia as the new district youth coordinator with a new secretary.

Jabem district president Pastor Gedisa Okamaisa accompanied by the nomination committee Paul Siwari and his chairman Pastor Douglas Tukiti ran the elections which saw the new executives voted into place.

Conference chairman

 Basil delivered a strong message to the Jabem district youths to use their Christian principals to guide them in their decision-making because the future was in their hands.

Bad leaders with bad decisions riddled with corruption has brought Papua New Guinea this far where  after 35 years we are still wondering what went wrong.

2012 elections is fast approaching, therefore, electing a good leader can make some difference.

A leader who has been exposed to private or public sector management with good and quality leadership experience can make a good leader.  

A leader who thinks from the heart makes good decisions.

 The onus is now with the youth of today to find those leaders in the next general elections and bring them into parliament.

Buang scouts leading Bulolo MP Sam Basil and delegates into the conference area

The conference ended today with Holy Communion service, after which delegates from the 14 circuits head back home.

Coffee pulpers and sewing machines donation

By SAM BASIL
Bulolo MP

Testing coffee pulpers with some coffee beans while Yapleh Gilimbing looks on

Well, the coffee beans look OK!

See for yourself!

Handing out the sewing machines to the Bundun women's group

Bundun is a small village alongside the Bulolo National Highway, Ward 2,  of the Mumeng local level government headed by LLG president Mathias Phillip.
Yapleh Gilimbing,  a local leader from Bundun village, took ownership of a rundown coffee plantation with his clansmen some 15 years ago and needed coffee pulpers to process wet beans.
Through the district's district support improvement programme (DSIP) funds,  I have made available coffee pulpers for men and sewing machines for women.
The sewing machines can be used by the women’s group to raise their own funds  by sewing  uniforms or mending villagers' clothes while coffee pulpers will process the coffee much quickly to generate more income by a man as head of the family.
The Bundun ceremony was brief but I really admired the job done by the building team of erecting the pulpers.
The ceremony ended and we had to proceed down the hill to open the Omalai footbridge project.

Omalai footbridge opening

By SAM BASIL
Bulolo MP

Bulolo MP Sam Basil opening the Omolai footbridge

Being a businessman from Bulolo district I have been engaged with the people from my district since 1996 in terms of providing essential community projects such as water supply, footbridge and other donations such as sewing machines to women’s groups, coffee pulpers to community groups and sporting gear to local sporting organisations at local level government level.

Singsing towards the footbridge project site

The Omalai footbridge was originally built by Armsec’s maintenance team in 2001 just before the 2002 national elections, which I contested, and lost.
I can remember back in 2001 we opened the old Omalai footbridge with the same bamboo band style and the great local people we met.

Receiving bilums from Omalai mothers, their apreciation for the project second time around

Many little children back then in 2001 are all over eight years old or older this very day.
The original Omalai footbridge got washed out four months ago and it was very timely for me now as their local MP to take charge to get the bridge back in order.

Villagers trying out the new Omolai footbridge

The new footbridge is two metres taller than the old washed-out footbridge to avoid another wash-out.
We were welcomed by the locals and accompanied by the Mumeng LLG president Mathias Phillip and Watut LLG president Waka Daman.

Kek Riggers & Footbridges contractors packing and ready to move to the next project site.

This included the press group.
The singsing group led us to the project site followed by their one and only bamboo band.

Couldn't sit down have to eat my kaukau while watching the Omalai Bamboo Band hammering out its tunes

Band members have to hammer chords out of the soft ground to produce each chord required by the band master, armed with his flutes.
Each chord consists of five or less bamboos tuned and stringed together to produce specific chords.
I believe this style is unique to PNG among many other undiscovered musical cultures of the country.
The local pastor conducted the dedication service with prayers followed by speeches by Mumeng and Watut LLG presidents,  who supported the programme and urged the people to take care of this important investment.
The footbridge will serve over 300 people who will use it for transporting their alluvial gold, vegetables for Lae and roadside markets and also to access schools, aid posts and other essential services.
During my speech,  I  urged villagers to take care of the bridge for another eight years or so.

A sewing machine and a coffee pulper were handed out to the women's and men's group during the bridge ceremony

I reminded them that this was my second footbridge project as a person and first as an MP and would be committed to continue to come back and fix the footbridge whenever required.
A sewing machine for the Omalai women’s group and a coffee pulpers for Omalai community were presented after the footbridge ceremony.
The event finished off with some local dishes to the tune of the local bamboo band which I later joined, playing the bass chord.

Finally joined the band with the bass bamboo tubes

Mona from Morobe National Broadcasting Commission did some recordings and re-played it over Radio Morobe during the independence weekend.

MMV donates to Mumeng police barracks

Members of the police force and the new houses against a panoramic Mumeng background

By SAM BASIL
Bulolo MP

Bulolo MP Sam Basil talks about the need to make his electorate a better and safer place to live and work in

The new Mumeng station will be one of the fastest-developing stations in Bulolo district after its re-location from its old location which was devastated by the Kumalu River some six years ago.
The station will in the future serve the population of Mumeng, Buang and parts of Wampar local level government in terms of court circuits, lock-ups, shops, post office, service stations and other essential services that a small township can offer.
Landowners of Wafi have shown interest in having some spin-offs from the Wafi mine development to be directed towards the station and is supported by my office.
In late 2007, Morobe Tutumang,  of which I am a member,  approved K500, 000 from the Morobe provincial government 2010 for the construction of those five houses for police in Mumeng station.

Guests taking a tour of the new houses

Construction started in late 2008 and finished early 2010.
The houses were vacant for at least a year until my joint district planning and budget prioritees committee (JDP&BPC) approved the K2m law and order programme.

Guests led by Bulolo MP Sam Basil finish in specting one of the new houses

Part of the funding covered the new police station of Mumeng including furniture , computers and networking software.
JDP&BPC also funded fencing and white goods.
There is a pavement from the driveway into the house and EMTV broadcasting systems for the station.
Law and order is of a concern to all stake holders in the district and the district must be seen to work hand-in-hand with all stake holders.
Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) stepped in with the purchase of six new Tuffa tanks, six electric water pumps and plumbing to help fasttrack the development.

Representatives from MMJV

MMJV community affairs manager Stanley Komunt spoke on behalf of the company and stressed that MMJV was keen on being a partner in such projects.
He said the company's donation showed its commitment to the district and the government of Papua New Guinea.

Morobe PPC Peter Guiness makes a point at the gathering

He officially handed over MMJV’s donations.
Morobe provincial police commander Supt Peter Guiness praised MMJV for its timely donation and assured the district and MMJV that he would source policemen for the rural police programmes to come to Mumeng and reside there to conduct their duties.
It is planned that under the K2m budget, a police vehicle including annual running costs, driver's allowances, 10 community police uniforms and monthly allowances, three firearms (a bolt action high powered rifle, pump action shot gun and a gas gun) and ammunition.
The police station will be under the command of a regular senior constable who will be based in Mumeng.
A total of seven areas have been targeted:

• Wau Rural LLG (Biaru-based);
• Wau Town (markets and shop-based);
• Bulolo Town (market and shopping area-based);
• Upper Watut LLG (Manianda-based);
• Buang LLG;
• Mumeng LLG (Mumeng-based); and
• Mumeng Station command (Mumeng-based).

From a call out there will be more than 70 men armed with 21 firearms ready to take on any problems before reinforcements arrive,  all for K2m with annual funding to sustain operational costs.

Sam Basil saves a life

By SAM BASIL
Bulolo MP

Lis Maso being laid on the stretcher by the captain

As soon as I arrived on a delayed flight from Port Moresby this  morning I received a call from our operator Jack Maso that his daughter a teacher Lis Maso from Wagau Primary School  was having complications from child birth

The patient in the middle with two wantoks on the side

The road situation into Buang local level government (LLG) has been severely affected by the continuous rain with many sections of the road washed out or covered with mud.'
That morning also we got reports that parts of the Munanung section Armco was washed out and the only way to help in such cases was to fly into Buang.

I asked my accountant Mirriam Nork to enquire with helicopter companies in Lae to negotiate an urgent medivac operation and we eventually settled with Manalos Aviation.

The owner Mr. Jurgen was willing to help for K4,800.

Ater landing the Captain Jurgen Ruh cooling down the engines of the safest helicopter in PNG... because it has twin engines

I drove into Lae’s old airport and hopped onto the helicopter the chopper looked weird but I later found out that this helicopter is the safest in the country.

Why?

It has two engines therefore you can rule out engine failures.

I wasn’t very confident but later enjoyed every bit of the flight.

It only took nine minutes from the old airport into Wagau Villages.

We landed on the Wagau’s primary school playing field and arrange for the patient to lie on the stretcher and fitted her accompanied by her husband and mother.

Wagau students, teachers and parents welcoming the rescue chopper.

The flight back into Angau Hospital was smooth.

Lis Maso was delivered safely into the hands of the doctors.

The cost of the operations was about K4, 800 which I paid for and will get refund from the district DSG funds. 

Captain Jurgen Ruh and Bulolo MP Sam Basil...Mission achieved!  Thank God a life has been saved today with some lessons learnt. I hope one day, when in government,  we can standardise programmess for all local level government in Papua New guinea to be self-sufficient. sb

The medivac has now prompted me to make funding available pre-paid to helicopter companies as emergencies comes at any time and people turn to their local members of parliament to save them. 

I am glad that a life was saved today before heading off to Wau for Biaru to celebrate with the Biaru people tomorrow.

What is wrong with Peter O'Neil

By SAM BASIL

Bulolo MP

 

Parliamentarians who have been mandated to represent their constituents are being intimidated and mistreated by their-equally represented members of parliament who are in the executive arm of the legislature whom we know as ministers.

 I also speak on behalf of some members of parliament who are still awaiting their developmental grants especially the District support improvement programme (DSIP)  

 funds that we all know was recently dished out to only the members of parliament from the government benches or who supported the government during the recent no-confidence attempt.

Finance officers in Waigani have confirmed last week Thursday that all remaining cheques of K2 milllion for the opposition members of parliament was signed and released to the Finance minister’s office and is in his possession.

So far all DSIP cheques from this eighth parliament were physically handed out by the then Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch, Acting Finance Minister Hon. Arthur Somare, once by the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and recently Peter O’Neil as the current finance Minister.

When members of parliament are asked physically to collect those DSIP cheques amounting to millions of kina from those ministers it then creates a lot of situation which eventually plays down to the advantage of those in power.

What happened to the district treasury rollout programmes?

Why can’t those funds be remitted directly from the finance office to the district treasuries?

Instead of MPs physically picking those cheques from those ministers?

 When members of parliament physically engage themselves to pick those cheques up it also makes them think that they owned those funds and can find ways to misapply or misappropriate those funds.

Also at this very point in time of movements from both the government and the opposition benches and with a little shift from the opposition MPs back into the government benches, one can assume that Peter O’Neil is definitely luring numbers by using their own constitutional funds according to inside sources.

The reasons that Minister O’Neil gave was that due to some cash flow problems.

He will still hold onto the cheques but what should have been done earlier by the government is to equally divide the available funds into 89 districts of whatever is available while awaiting further funds to be available.

How can there be a cash flow problem when such funds are secured into trust accounts with hand written cheques being distributed to members of parliament or are it that the NEC uses trust funds at its discretion and will?

We all know that the excuse of cash flow problem is not good enough.

The recent K800m surplus and a soon to be supplementary budget to expand those funds before the 2011 budget proper makes me wonder if the 2010 budget appropriation was properly managed especially when billions are claimed to have been misappropriated or misapplied from thousands of trust accounts.

Papua New Guinea’s constitution has clearly defined the meaning of equality

And participation mentioned second in the national goals and directive principles while recognising the 89 districts of Papua New Guinea as an integral part of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea since September 16, 1975 any government for that matter should respect those constitutional directives.

The Somare Government has clearly breached the constitution as mentioned and continues to do so in many aspects of its way of governance, by zeroing in onto members constitutional funds brings the government’s ability to manage its parliamentary affairs into question.

I urged the Finance Minister Hon. Peter O’Neil to at least release those K2m cheques in his possession to the remainders of the opposition MPs soon and to ensure that future remittance of DSIP funds must be wired electronically from Waigani to the district treasuries.

The districts and its people owns those funds and not any government or ministers should use their power to fool mps with their own districts funds it is unconstitutional.

Papua New Guinea is 35 years old now and I urge all leaders to forgo old habits and show some maturity in some ways of leadership in this country, let us not pass those old dirty habits to the new leaders to carry on, parliament is dirty enough already.

 

Bulolo people adamant

RIGGO NANGAN

THE Bulolo Stretim Sindaun committee and the locals are steadfast in their stance that the Sepik settlers have to go, The National reports.

“If they wasn’t to take out a court order to prevent their repatriation, they should go else first,” Garaina leader Raoai Meki, said yesterday.

The Sepiks are seeking a court order to prevent their repatriation.

“They cannot stay in Bulolo and go to court,” he said on behalf of leaders from Buang, Mumeng, and Watut.

The locals also wanted the repatriation exercise to materialise soon because the situation is still tense.

They said that the situation could flare up again, considering that “a local youth was fortunate to miss a dart fired by a couple of Sepik youths” yesterday.

They said police quickly took control of the situation.

Meki said the incident is an example of the on-going situations in Bulolo at the moment.

Meanwhile, stretim sindaun committee chairman, Jack Isaac, and his committee have called on all “papa kar” (public motor vehicle (PMV) owners) from Bulolo district to be ready in case they are called on to provide their truck for the repatriation exercise.

Historical pictures of Bulolo during the gold rush days

Wau. Early-mid 1930s from above Mt Kaindi.All pictures courtesy of MICHAEL WATERHOUSE, author of Not A Poor Man's Field

Upper Waria Men, Bubu River. This photo was published in the New Guinea Annual Report for 1924-25.

Unloading 'Peter'.

Unloading G31 at Bulwa.

The remains of Junkers G31 ‘Peter’ on Bulolo aerodrome, 21 January 1942.

 

Tennis court, Cliffside.

Salamaua isthmus from Samoa harbour.

Salamaua from the air. Samoa harbour on right, Bayern Bay on left.

Salamaua 'drome, with the Francisco River top and bottom.

Sailing on old dredge ponds was a popular pastime. This was in about 1934.

Power house at exit of Bulolo River from gorge, with water race upstream

Patrol wending its way along the creek in Snake River area, possibly in connection with Jensen’s railway survey.

No.5 dredge at dusk

No.2 dredge under construction

New Guinea Goldfields’ Golden Ridges mine, near Wau

Merri Creek near junction with Edie Creek,1928.

Les Trist and Frank Drayton. Les Trist died in an air crash near the Wampit Gap in May 1931 and Drayton at the bottom of Wau 'drome in December 1932.

Lae 1931-32. A Junkers G31 and a Junkers W34 are at centre of picture.

Jensen’s bridge across the Bulolo, Guinea Gold workings,1928.

First Annual Swimming Carnival, Bulwa 1937.

Early flight ticket.

Digging ladder of dredge No. 2

DH83 Fox Moth owned by Guinea Airways. Arrived on field in March 1933. Destroyed at Salamaua by Japanese, 21 January 1942.

Bulolo stamps from a bygone era.

Bulolo in the aftermath of World War 11. Scorched earth remains.

Bulolo cricket team, 1939. It beat Salamaua 439 runs to 251, and as a result Bulolo won the Levien Trophy.

Bulolo bowling green. Labourers’ compound on ridge at rear.

Building the road to Edie Creek.

Buang villagers waiting to trade with Europeans.

Biangai village – possibly Winima.

BGD’s workshops and assembling yard, 1931

Barricaded Biaru village

Arrival of Junkers G31 'Paul' at Wau, 23 April 1931.

Aerial view No.1 dredge launch day, with the three G31s, 1932