THE KIMBERLEY GOLD. FIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1266, 4 June 1886, Page 3

THE KIMBERLEY GOLD. FIELDS.

(‘ Otago Daily Time?.’)

News is to hand from the Kimberley gold-fields stating that one man has struck 4 rich patch, which yielded him over 500 ounces of gold. Throughout the oniony the new rush has created considerable excitement. About 50 persons have honked themselves in Christ* church as passengers by the s.s. Triumph for Derby. The great majority of these are young single men of good physique. Each will probably take a couple of horses with him.

At the meeting which was held at Christchurch on Wednesday, the Press states that two private lett rs from Perth and Derby were read. The letters said a trreat deal of gold had been found—over 500 'Z already (April 18th). One nugget, which had been bought hy the Government to send to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, weighed lEKiz. Three men had got 64 ounces in four days, and the field was of very largo extent At Derby white labour was worth 15s a day, and was scarce at that, so was Cuinese, and the blacks would not work. The Chinese were doing very well on the field, but how well nobody knew, fur they never admitted they were making anything.—(Laughter). The galea were terrific, and so were the natLe rats ; the snakes moat terrific of all. The track was horribly boggy in winter, yet the writer had seen 15s given for ISgals of water. There was grass in places 7ft high, and impassable Some severe criticisms of these accounts were given hy one or two of those present ; one gentleman, whoe'aims to know Australia thoroughly, warning everybody it was a laud full or fever and ague and of every misery in the world, a land from which they would never come back. About iheGu'fof Carpentaria ho had seen the temneraturc up to 180 degrees by 8 a.in. In such a country they might get a shauty and get a glass of grog, but no flonr. In that climate more water would fall in twenty four minutes than here in seven weeks, and, they were likely to want the Triumph after they got to Derby. He hoped no one w.iulrt imagine that he had only to land at Derby with two horses and HO in his pocket, for such an one would find himself paying 10s a pound tor Hour with a weevil in it tho length of a waliting-stick, and wnul 1 soon se * the end of his money. On the other hand it was advanced that there were 12.000 head of cattle in the country, and that the Duke of Manchester found it the fiuest grazing land he had ever seen. The Western Australian Government have decided to proclaim the district a declared goldfield, and have appointed wardens to issue licenses. The price of a miner’s right is LI. From the regulations in force in Western Australia it appears that alluvial ordinary claims comprise an area of 16 hy 16 yards for one person ; ordinary river and stream claims to. have a frontage of 20 yards on the course of the river or stream, and a depth of 50 yards on both banks ; ordinary quartz claims not to esceel 50fb in length, on the suoposed course of the reef, by a width not exceeding 400 feet. Any ground taken up for mining and unoccupied and unwnrked for ten days to be considered as abandoned. Gold mining leases are granted for areas of not less than one acre nor exceeding forty acres, at an annual reut, payable in advance, of 5s per acre. These leases are liable to nance'lation unless duly worked by the proper number of men, or machinery power equal to the men. The leases can be determined by giving three mouths’ notice, and the lessees have power to remove all machinery used on the laud. Tire Kirn'rerley goldfields, about which so much has been heard lately (soys the Perth Inquirer), are situated nearly 400 miles from the port of Derby, and are also very difficult of access. None but strong and well equrnnel parties can hope to surmount the difficulties of the journey between Derby and the new Ehlorado An impression is abroad that the goldfields are situated upon the banks of the Ore Ririr, but this is a mistake. Mr Hardman first discovered “ the colour” on the hunks of that river, hut the diggers who proceeded to the place at once left it to follow no the indications found in other -directions. About 65')oz of gold have been unearthed, nearly the whole of which have be m taken from the ground in the neighbourhood of the Elvire. In no ease, as yet known, have the, prospectors sank more than three feet below the surface, the major portion of the gold obtained having been found among the roots of the tussocks of spinifex, wilh which the district abounds. The whole country is very lightly lim -ered with a species of stunted white-gnm which is practicdly useless except as firewood. The gold is very widely distributed, “colour” being founl wherever the earth has been “panned out,” but “ po-k ts” (and these only of a very small kind) have as yet b-en found only in the beds of the gullies. Tn all probability the wealth of the district will depend on the quartz-reefs with which it is so thickly intersected. Several diggers lately arrived at Derby from thi eastern colonies, but upon finding out that they had still 40 1 miles to travel b tore reaching the as yet really undefined goldfields, they sold ail their belongings and depu te I in disgust. That there is gold in plenty in tho district is certain but it will take much capital to properly test ami fully develop the auriferous resources of the. country. Poor men had hotter ke-p away from Derby, or they will arrive there only to become burdens upon a small and struggling community. The Cossack correspondent of the Perth * Daily News,’ under date sth inst., reports that the steamer Albany, from Derby, brought the following news respecting the Kimberley goldfields A man has arrived at Derby having in his possession SOoz of gold. Up to the date of tho Albany leaving Derby. 600 ounces had been brought in. At Cambridge Gulf complaints are rife owing to the want of stores for the diggers. The Albany had on board 180oz of gold from the Kimberley diggings. Large numbers of people continue to arrive at Derby from all parts For storekeepers and capitalists there are splendid prospects. It is believed that large quantities of gold from the Kimberley district have been obtained by some diggers from the eastern colonies unknown to the authorities. Up to date it is estimated that upwards of I2 r 'ooz has been scoured, and from present appearances there is every probability of the diggings proving tho best ever discovered in Australasia. At Derby land has considerably increased in va'ne, and already a number of town blocks have changed hands. At the time of the Albany’s departure, five teams were leaving Derby for the goldfields. News has been received, from D’rby stating that Hall and Slate-y'a party hare found anolher large nugget of 28 iz. Tho

g.s. Metnmiir has reached therewith a number of fully equipped diggers on board. Further particulars have b-en receive 1 from the diggings. There are about 400 miners on the field who have gone from Derby,'and 300 who have gone from Cambridge Gulf. Derby is the cheapest place for supplies. The gold at Brockman’s Creek, a tributary of the Elvina, is scattered about >,i small pa - ohes. The’o is no water within three mi'es of the diggings now. and in the dry season there is none within six miles. Indieatiaus of gold have been found 1.00 miles nearer Derby. The

diggers are very reticent, and the present information is insufficient to warrant the supposition that it is a permanent field, or sufficient to justify a big rush. Intending diggers should land with at least 1.101), to enable them to got an outfit for a three or four months’ trip. No teams have yet gone to the field. One bullock team is just ready to start. Carriage is USD per ton. The diggers are very reticent. All of them seem to havo money. One firm has exported 3600z of gold, the pros given being L 3 10s per oz. The gold was a good sample. Eighty diggers went by the Menmuir, 60 of them being without means of transport to reach the goldfields. Conflicting accounts are current of the prospects of the field. “ A Sunny Corner ” (New South Wales) publishes a private letter from (the field, in which the writer says “ The goldfields are ini the tropics, and the rush is concocted by a lot of Queensland mine settlers for speculation. I think the whole thing a fraud from begin ning to end. Nothing is being produced in the country except a few cattle in the Kimberley district. I have been all over the United States, and over Mexico, and up to Alaska, hut I have never in my life seen such a land as this Wes'ern Australia hurahng.” On the other hand, Mr P. Roo"ey, who with one or two others left Mudgee en route for Kimberley (savs the Mndgee Independent), before leaving stated that, he was confident that the venture was a good one. and said that he had been shown a letter receiver! from the rush by a person in Mudgee, which stated that the writer (a bro'herof the recipient) got 800 iz nf gold in II weeks. Mr Rooney and Mr Tierney have had considerable experience on the L>rea>est goldfiehis of Australia, and are thoroughly practical miners.