Reported New Rush at the Palmer.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 250, 25 August 1874, Page 7

Reported New Rush at the Palmer.

By. the kindness of the captain of the Woodbine, which arrived in port yesterday, from .Newcastle (N.S.W.), we have been placed in possession of late Sydney news files. The Evening .Mews 'of the 23rd July extracts a Jong report on the Palmer River Quid field from the columns of the Cooldown Herald, of July Sj’ in which is contained an account of the : new rush to Sandy Creek, from which we reprint below. It must be borne in mind that' this repoH has been supplied to the CoohibJVnllcraid by Mr Yaldwyn, M.L.C.: —

Sandy Creek, the site of the new rush, coo)gs into the Palmer on the other side of Thompson’s range, at the head of the watershed of the Mitchell. The new rush has ■during, the- past fortnight created quite a furore amongst the diggers; the exciting news received from it having turned all their heads; and they are leaving everything to try their luck in the “ fresh fields and pastures new.” On the 20th June, intelligence was received that payable gold had been struck in Sandy Greek, and various were the rumours as to .the nature of the returns, extravagant reports alleging that some men had got as much as GGOoza. to TOOozs. in a very short time, and that all were making from 3ozs. to 4ozs. per day ; this latter turned out to be nearer the .mark, for authentic information received afterwards stated that'nearly every claim was making from 2ozs. to 3ozs. per day, and some were yielding much more. The ground, so far as it was tested, had been proved payable' for some twelve miles, but it was known that parties were working some distance further up, and supposed to be on rich gold. All kinds of rumours were afloat as to extraordinary finds, but until Mr St. George’s return definite information could not bo got; suffice it to say that a great stampede has set in by storekeepers, butchers, and diggers, all of whom express themselves sanguine as to the payable nature of the ground. The Sandy ■Creek gold is of a very fine description ; magnificent colour, and very coarse, evidently reef gold, and apparently not long ejected from the matrix. Mr Yaldw.yn succeeded in obtaining a fair quantity of very handsome specimens, being coarse and nuggetty gold ; and, judging from the description of the country, it is fully expected that some very rich reefs will he opened at the head of the creek. The day before Mr Yaldwyn left Palmerville, he received a letter from Mr St. George, who was then en route to the rush, in which it stated the news from Sandy Creek was of a most exciting nature, and to use his own words, “I only hope that half of it is true.” Since then nows has been received in town stating that the few men on the rush were making from 700ozs.to,800ozs. per week. Several other rushes have taken place, one 18 miles up the river, front all of which most encouraging news had been received, gold being got in one of them at 30ft. deep. Were we to publish half the letters that have reached town the last few 7 days anent the now rush, the intelligence conveyed in them would certainly send all the people in Cooktown mad. But, as we are most desirous of placing the matter in its true light, we give a few extracts from letters of persons at the Palmer, in whose veracity wo place the most implicit confidence. The first is from the Commissioner, who says that “ The deep-sinking at the now rush, which has resulted in payable returns, stamps the Palmer as a permanent gold held.” A correspondent, writing to*

ii3,.says,There is a big rush at Fish Creek, better khown as Sandy Creek, and many claims are fiiaking from 1 0:4. to Goz, per day. rim left-hand branch, German Bar, and most of the workings are deserted for the new rush, •which is situated about 25 miles from Palmervillo, and 18 from Edwardstown, between the Mitchell and tlie,Palmer. The sinking is at present from 3ft. to 12ft., with 3ft. of payable washdirt. Everybody speaks in the highest terms of the rush fail'd 1 know for a fact, that loz. per day has been left for it. Several new reefs have-been opened lately with lirst-class show.'’ A merchant in town received the following from his brother on the diggings The news now coming says Sandy Creek is one of the best rushes ever on the Palmer ; its locality is 25 miles from the main camp, and extends for fifty miles up the right-hand branch. As much as 41b. weight has been, washed in one day ffbm a claim, and all are making good gold. There is a large extent of workable ground, and these facts are from one of the most dependable sources. Jdo not fear another insane rush, but a steady flow of the proper sort of men.” Another local merchant placed the letter of his representative on the Palmer before ns, from which we make the following extracts u There is a splendid rush to Sandy Creek, between the Palmer and; the Mitchell. 25 miles from Palmerville, and 18 from Edwardstown-, It is far before anything ever opened on the Palmer, or in tlie colony. I have seen .Nicholson, (one of the prospectors), who.says all are doing well, and from 700oz. to 800‘gz.. per week are the returns for present workings. There are about 800 people on the gronhdy'and all are making something; and a lot of claims are making from 4oz. to Goz. per day, many getting more. One party are reported to have netted GOOoz. in a fortnight, and another 150oz. in five days. The gold is being steadily traced toward the head of the Walsh, and supposed to extend on to the Tate. Many parties are out prospecting ; .amk it .is hoped before long that deep-sinking ,waTh be the order of the day.” We do not.wish to make undue excitement as regards the news from the Palmer, and only make a;.fc\v extracts from the many letters handed .us; but we can learn on all sides of the same news being received by many people in town ; and, judging from tlie preparations being made, a regular stampede will set in to the new diggings.-— New Zealand Herald. ■ .