The Kimberley Diggings

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 144, 15 May 1886, Page 3

The Kimberley Diggings

Mr C. E. Deely, of the firm of Alcock Bros, and (Cc. K merchants, Palmerston and Derby, and who is stationed at the latter place, gives the following interesting particulars relative to the Kimberley gold-field. Writing on March 30th, ; Mr Deely aays :•—•" About eight men have made their Way, in from thf . suppled goldfields. They report, about forty men up there. They have come in to buy rations. It is going to be the biggest field in Australia in our opinion. I AR men who are in have gold with them, but they are 'keeping it dark, and have only brought in :? enough for their wants. I jbought Sip^s frem two men yesterday, 22p«|,fwm another. We hear of another partyvclose herb •who have'_Hooz, with them^ one piece weighing ,10, ozs. It is a beautiful sample of gold, duite as good as that from the Palm|r. What we, have runs front soz tcrloz pieces,' all water worn, except one parcel, which was evidently golr\on' the surface from a rough leader. ? '; AU.I am afraid of is a rush with a lot of &en and no money: This is the nearest port, and the best road is from here; but the field is 300 miles inland- at least, aiid poor men •cannot get there. It never will be a poor man's diggings— th^r must* haye horses." In another letter Mr Deeley says the gales sometimes experienced there arie terrific. They cbme on very suddenly, accompanied by loud thunder and rain, and it is almost impossible to hear any 1 sound while they last. Alligators are numerous in the rivers, and snakes are frequently seen. Speaking of -the goldfields; again he adds, " there. is going to be an awful rush, and 1 do hope the papers will hf warn poor men that there will also be a lot of misery. "Recently in Derby as much as 15s was paid for fifty gallons of water."