THE LATEST FROM CHARTERS TOWERS AND PORT DARWIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 546, 4 October 1872, Page 3

THE LATEST FROM CHARTERS TOWERS AND PORT DARWIN.

(From tho Australasian September 14.)

CHARTERS TOWERS. % Tho reports from Charters Towers are lunch exaggerated. Large numbers of miners re on the ground, but those sinking hive lost the load, which is very narrow. The washclirt is stacks I for want of water. From present appearances there is no inducement for newcomers, for all the alluvial Sinking is taken up- The reefing nows continues favorable, but as some time must elanse he'bra crushing, there is no opening for diggers unless they have sufficient capital fora few months’ support The escort arrived from Charters Towers and Ravenswood with 1 LOfiOoz. The rush to the alluvial diggings continues. Water is reported scarce. The latest crushing averaged from 7oz to S >z. to the ton. The , Jam’s Patterson took over 2,ofPoz. yesterday from th-’ Etheredgo void-fields. (From the Rrmane Courier Suit. 4.) The Hon. Minister for Public Works and Mines has received the following official report on the above gold-field : “The portion of the gold-fields under my charge named Charters Towers is in a most prosperous state. There a ,- e at present 3> head of stampers at work, and 32 move in the course of erection. The return furnished plainly shows that the quartz crushed from the reefs during the month of Jnlv gives a high average yield, viz., 2<z. 7dwb Igr. per ton. The number of minors re gistored shows that there are a little over one thousand hands at present engage I in quartz reefing. “At the Broughton, which is situated about fourteen miles east of Charters T iwere, there is one crushing machine at. work. This place hi 3 failed very much, but since tho proprietors have reduced the pri’-e of crushing from 30s. to 20s. per ton, 1 have every hooc that many of the claim? that have been abandoned will be retaken up. The machine is situated in the centre .of a large reefing district, though tho discovered reefs are widely scattered. “Brookes Camp is situated twelve miles in a south easterly direction, and tho reefs •there will have to be crushed at Broughton. The-o are ah) a number of reefs on the Bnrlekin. situated 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 miles in an easterly direction from the Broughton which will also have to be crushed there : an I there are several reefs in a westerly direction from Broughton, on the way to Charters Towers, which from their close proximity to the Broughton will no donbt he crushed there also. The a’luvial at Charters Towers is turnin' oat satisfactorily—gome throe hundred men at wide. The alluvial at Brookes Ci up gives omplo •vuent to eighty or ninety men The Sevmty-mila, seveatv.five mile, an I Ndue-milo, give employment to about tlvee hnu'rel men. When there a short time ago, [ met seviral minors whom 1 know at the Cane, and they told me that th y ware doing very well.

Tile Cape returns I -am unab'e to famish in this report, but as I start for there in a rh.y or two, I shall be able to make ararngcmcnts with the p-oprietors of the crushing-machine to furnish me with a return of the crushings in future at the beginning of cmli month. The distance is about 112 miles, and I am not in a position to visit it frequently on having so much to do at this place.

The population is increasing daily, an 1 the township of Charters Towers has aH the appearance of a flourishing business town— I hare the honour to be, Sir, your most ■obedient servant,

W. F. E. hi. CHARTERS, Gold Commissioner.

PORT DARWIN.

Onr f Australasian) Yam Correspondent telegraphs:- -Since my last,Wescott’s party, Priscilla Reef, has found rich surface stone • in other parts of his acre block. Twentytwo ordinary quartz claims have been registered, and several claim-holders report having found gold in the surface stone. No operations have yet been commenced, but parties are energetically engaged in carting stores from Port Darwin before the rain set in. The first shower of the season fell this morning (Friday). Diggers arc sanguine of good alluvial ground being found, but nothing payable has Deen discovered as yet. There is a rumor of a new reef having been discovered, but nothing authentic has yet been received. At Pine Creek, thirty-one miles south of Westcott’s Creek, on the telegraph line, forty acres of ground has been applied for by the Kapunda prospectors. This includes the ground where M'Lachlan got tho first prospect of five ounces. Mr. Ford, the leader has found m an old hole sunk by M'Lachlan, good prospects. Tho barque Condor arrived at Port Darwin. Port Darwin, Sept. 13 Tbs Condor has arrived, with one hundred and twenty passengers, all of them unprovided with stores. None bring with them the means of transport. The Government must act immediately, as the force here is totally inadequate to preserve order; otherwise serious results cannot but be apprehended. All the reports from the diggings continue favorable, and steady preparations are making for work. The following telegram is dated Port Darwin, Aug. 31 Westontt Creek is situate some one hundred and twenty miles from Port Darwin, and seven miles from the telegraph line. Westoott’s Adelaide party have discovered a reef, which they have christened the Priscella Reef. It runs from ten points west ot north to ten points east of south, for about three miles. The line of reef is well defined, and gold plainly seen in tho stone I“o operations have as yet been commenced

but three miles of ground have been fpogged out in claims. About 50 diggers are at present on the Held. A wide field exists tor a large population. Both alluvial and reefing parties must bo well provided with horses, dray sjs tores, tools, &c., foratleastsix months. The rainy season commences in about two months, and no traffic can possibly bo dona till about February, as the country gets frightfully boggy,