THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1280, 10 September 1886, Page 3

THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

On Monday las*) (says the * Post ’) Mr D. N. Hunter, a Wellington resident, who four months ago started for Kimberley, returned to this city'with the confirmed conviction that the so-called goldfields are a delusion and a »nare, and that the reports oflaige finds of gold are exaggerated, if not absolutely untrue. Anyhow, Mr Hunter, who was accompanied by three experienced West Coast diggers, only succeeded in obtaining ope ouuce and a-half of the precious metal after three weeks’ diligent search, and he discovered no one who had been very much more successful than himself Mr Hunter and his two mates reached Cambridge Gulf with a suitable outfit and three horses, and after a short stay there they started with over 200 tor Kimberley, under the guidance of a man named M'Dmald. When the trio asked this land pilot if he would escort them to the diggings he replied that he would take them to the alleged gold-bearing district, but he could not say be could take them to the goldfields. This looked ominous, but did not deter the whole party from proceeding on their journey. When some distance on the road the guide heard that another vessel had reached port with a further consignment of anxious adventurers, and so with the utmost good nature (perhaps not uumingled with a desire for gain) he left the first band of martyrs in order to give the new comers the benefit of his guidance Some of the temporarily deserted ones desirous of reaching the El Dorado without delay pushed on, but got on the wrong track, so tbit when M‘U-m----aid came back with the second batch of men they had to camp until the guide went for and returned with the lost sheep. This entailed considerable delay and no little in* convenience. Ultimately, the whole contingent, now numbering about 300, got a fair a'-.arfc, and after nearly six weeks’ travel they reached the supposed golden land, and soon dispersed over a large area of country to tickle the earth, which, however, appeare 1 loth to display any golden smiles. Mr Hunter and his party fossicked for a period of three weeks in the most likely spots, but didn’t make tucker, let alone recoup their somewhat large outlay. According to Mr Hunter's account there is no set diggings—in fact, no diggings at all. Those who reach the Kimberley district immediately set about fossicking among the barren slaty gullies and ridges, travelling perhaps 8 or 10 miles a day, and in this way the prospectors soon become separated and lost in space, the area over which gold is said to be discoverable extending perhaps 50 miles in every direction from the point where the prospectors closed their journey. There is no township or attempt at one on the field, and not a hole has been sunk deeper than 12in. There is no warden on the ground, and little to indicate the presence of anything pertaining to a diggings, beyond the stragglers who come to the locality with their mining paraphernalia. Mr Hunter only saw one claim pegged out, ami that was a small one 50ft x 50ft. The country is devoid of pasture and forest, being of a. slaty character and thinly covered with stunted scrub. It is utterly unfit to support sheep, and cattle can only exist by browsing on the scrub. Disheartened and disappointed with his want of succssj during a period of three weeks, and feeling that if he did not soon quit the field he would be starved out, Mr Hunter left for Derby in order to take the first opportunity of returning to New Zealand. Five weeks’ travelling over a flat country composed chiefly of soft chocolate coloured sand brought him to the coast, where he took passage in company with 40 other disappointed prospectors for Sydney. On the road to Derby ho passed about 150 men hound for Kimberley. Some were on horseback, some were swaggers, and 14 were trundling laden wheelbarrows, a circumstance which showed that they hid pluck enough to deserve a better fate than that which evidently awaited them at the end of their journey. Mr Hunter states that stores at Derby and Cambridge Gulf are largely overstocked, and provisions generally are cheaper than in Wellington. He saw flour sold at Derby for L 9 per ton. Potatoes .were the only dear articles of consumption, being LI(S per ton. Mr Hunter says that vhi'e he was at Derby and Kimberley over 4000 people landed at the port. He strongly urges people not to leave for Kimberley until some news of a reliable character warrants such a step. It is possible, he thinks, that payable gold may be discovered by sinking, but so far the field has turned out, to quote his own words, “ a complete fraud The township of Derby is not one indicative of great prosperity. It contains three accommodation shanties, four stores, and a wooden house occupied by the Government Resident. Two miles nearer the landing place there is one hotel, and a stole is in coins; of erection. A duty of 12| per cent is .charged on all goods landed at Derby.

Among those who returned from Kimberley to Melbourne was Patrick Leamy, of Greymouth, who states that he found nothing but misery on his arrival at Wyndham. “ Men were coming back in numie-a from the diggings, and every man without exception gave a poor account of the fields. ], aud others who went with me, could rely on some of the men who had returned, because we had known them previously, and from what they said we were certain that the goldfields were no good. One storekeeper showed me 34 ounces of gold in one parcel, and 4lwc in another, and advised us to go on to the diggings ; bnt we concluded, as that was all the gold that they could show us at Wyndham, that scarcely any was being got at the diggings, or more would have found its way to the storekeepers at Wyndham. We also knew from what the returned diggers told us that it would be ri lioulously foolish for us to go on. Men were constantly coming back in parties of six or seven and 10 all the time we were at Wyndham. The Perth papers say that only the men have come bade who had no means ; but the fact is, it is only those men who have the means who have come hack, and there are numbers left still at Wyndham who are not able to pay for a passage from there even to Port Darwin. When the Tagliaferro left the schooner Linda Webber was at the Gulf, taking on passengers for Port Darwin at L2 or 1,2 10s each, and at least 50 or 60 bad taken their passages by her when we left. The Linda Webber was to start on the same day that we did. Those who had means, like myself and others, to pay LlO for their passages, came back by the Tagliaferro. Moat of tbs men left behind are very hard up. and from what I can see the West A ustralian Government will either have to bring them away from Wyndham or find them work, as they can’t be allowed to die there.’ Brisbane, September 7. The steamship Sikh has arrived at Cooktown from Hongkong, via Port Darwin, where she shipped 80 returned diggers from the Kimberley district. Her cargo includes 800 tons of tea for New Zealand.

The steamship Menmuir has also arrived from Port Darwm with 180 returned diggers. Melbourne, September 7. Official reports of a satisfactory character are published regarding Kimberley district, where 2000 men are stated to be working. Private telegrams from Cambridge Gulf state that the roads from there to Kimberley are impassable.