The Palmer Rush.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 232, 21 April 1874, Page 6

The Palmer Rush.

The Queensland correspondent of the Daily Times, writing from Brisbane on March 29, says :—"The term 'rush' ia quite inadequate to express the exodus to the Palmer, which has become a perfect stampede. Vessels of all kinds, from the largest steamer to the smallest coasting schooner, are laid on to the Endeavour, and go away, one after another, as full as they will hold of passengers and cargo. The Marine Board and their officers are exercising a strict supervision to prevent over-loading, and have their work cut out for them to prevent the greed of owners endangering the lives of the passengers. Meanwhile, the thoughtful looker on can see nothing in the reliable news from the new gold-field to justify this rash abandonment of occupation, sacrifice of means, and encountering of toil if not of danger. That gold has been found in payable quantities there is no doubt; but hitherto the finds have not been extraordinarily heavy, and certainly not numerous, while at the same time there is no doubt that, some hundreds are getting more than a living. We have got to learn whether this will be the case with the thousands, much more with the tens of thousands, who are on their way, or preparing to go ; but it is quite expected that large numbers will come back again poorer and wiser men. Enormous quantities of provisions and goods of all kinds are pouring into Cooktown ; but as there is no drayroad between there and the Palmer, and everything has to be carried on pack-horses, money will go a very short way upon the diggings."