The Palmer River Diggings.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 224, 24 February 1874, Page 7

The Palmer River Diggings.

A recent arrival from Townsville informs us that a number of our miners have arrived from the Palmer via the Endeavor. Among them are Kenneth Clarke, Joseph Larkins, Thomas O'Donnell, and W. C. Little. The latest news brought is the discovery ,os,good gold thirty miles up the left hand branch of the Palmer ; provisions and everything else were very scarce and at fancy prices ; horseshoe nails were exchanged for their weight in gold ! and when a horse died—and many did so—there wa3 a rush for his old shoes. The carco of the Currambene (a small craft sent from Townsville) had been sold out in three days at the Endeavor; we presume for transport to the Palmer. The road between the two places, it is said, will be impassable during the wet season.— Northern Advocate, Dec. 27. If we can believe what has been. dinned into our ears for the last day or two all are off to the Palmer or the Endeavor River. The accounts from the new rush are certainly of an encouraging nature, but the absurd accounts that have been retailed through the town during the week are preposterous—so much so that one gentleman was heard to remark that they would have to weigh the gold by the ton, and quote the price for that quantity, instead of by the ounce as hitherto. 'Persons who speak of so and so bringing back so many pounds weight of gold received in exchange for their cattle or other property seem to forget that this is the result of the labor of live or six hundred men. At all events, if people have made up their minds to go there, let them wait until the rainy season is over. Mr M'Manus, of the Customs department, has gone to the Endeavor to take charge.— Cleveland Bay Express, Dec, 27. The Northern Advocate contains the following narrative of a trip made to the Palmer by Mr John Gillespie, a miner well known in Milehester and elsewhere, and says it should have some influence in preventing many from leaving places where they can make livelihood before starting to an almost unknown part of the country without plenty of rations and a certainty of battering their condition : " Gillespie and his party left here ten weeks since, arriving at the Palmer River in twentyone days, He describes the country as being very broken, and similar to the accounts already published, but rations and necessaries are absent, and with few exceptions, matters look very gloomy for those who remain during the rainy season. Many are obliged to go to the Walsh and Filth's for supplies from the waggons going up ; and even in such cases very little can be obtained for your money. Gold was obtained by the party, which would be considered payable under different circumstances ; and on the 4th ult, Mr Gillespie started on. his return journey to Charters Towers, with but Gib of flour, ■liisiJiorses being nearly knocked up ; he managed to obtain a supply of flour and tobacco at Tait's — prices, 2s and IGs respectively. He travelled on to the Mitchell, where he fell in with Bill Burns, an old miner well known in this district, but who was quite helpless from sickness and want of food. Gillespie, with a truly humane spirit, shared what little he had, and travelled towards here slowly; the unfortunate man, notwithstanding the attention paid him, gradually grew weaker, and at sundown last Sunday, 30th November, died on his horse ! Gillespie strapped the lifeless body to the. saddle on which he expired, and brought him nine miles to Stewart's station, ' where he obtained tools to dig his grave."