GOLD DIGGINGS IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 368, 14 May 1869, Page 2

GOLD DIGGINGS IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND.

The newly-discovered goldfields in the Strath of Kildonan is evidently attracting much attention. A special reporter of the “John O’Groat” journal supplies the following interesting particulars : “Our first impression of the goldfields were very favorable. The gold workings at present are in a burn (or creek, as some cf the old hands call it), leading into the river Kildonan. We travelled up the burn until we came to Mackenzie’s Point (called after a colonial digger of that name), when we came upon a gang of diggers from Wick, who were easily distinguished in the distance by their colonial appearance and ‘rig.’ There could not be fewer than one hundred and fifty men working on the creek that morning, and, judging by what we saw, the gross amount collected at night among them would not be under i'so in value. The largest amount collected by one man in a day was about 20s. worth. Some gangs, however, make much more, and others again (green hands) barely make wages The average yield to each digger seems to be about os. a day. The majority of them have only tin dishes to wash out the gold, and we only saw one cradle on the flat. It is the opinion of experience i diggers that, with proper machinery, the gold workings would yield handsome returns ; but, at the present, there is no encouragement for the diggers to spend money in machinery, as they will not be allowed to break ground on the terraces of the river. We counted as many as nine colonial diggers on theflat, including Mr. Gilchrist, the discoverer ; Mr. Southerland, from Latheron ; Messrs. Murray, Farquhar, &c, Some of these men were only out prospecting, and informed us that they had seen better prospects that day than they had seen in New Zealand after three days’ working. The greater number of diggers return to Helmsdale at night, where many of them resit c, and proceed out again in the morning, those owning horses and carts driving out and home, a distance of twenty-two miles. Some of the diggers from Wick came down with us to Helms 'ale, to sell their gold and buy provisions. They sol i half an ounce receiving for it £2, which is considered very fair value, The largest piece of gold yet discovered is about the size of a sixpence, and was found by Little and his mate, the owners of the cradle.

“Such is the demand for the in 'ispensable wash-dish that were a tin-smith presently established be would drive a roaring trade of it. One poor wayfaring follower of his craft was worked and bought out of his entire stock-in-trade in a very short time, while our brawny sons of Vulcan have been turning out, night and cay, the iron implements required. The morbid impatience of some, however, will not brook any delay, and accordingly we find them making use of all sorts of queer substitutes, from a four-corner shallow wooden box to a soup tureen.

“ On Wednesday last an experienced gold digger, recently returned from Australia, succeeded in finding traces of gold near the Dunbeath river, in Caithness, a short . istanco above the bridge. Since then several persons have been searching the strath of Dunbeath, and have found old in such quantities as can leave no doubt of its existence there, though whether it may be found in such quantities as will pay working expenses remains to be seen, a proper trial not having yet been made. ‘■ It is added that a petition has been sent to the Duke of Sutherland, praying him to afford facilities for working the auriferous ground in his county.