AN EXPLORER'S OPINION OF THE FIELD.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 155, 10 June 1886, Page 2

AN EXPLORER'S OPINION OF THE FIELD.

The following is an extract from a letter by the explorer O'Donnell to a friend in Melbourne, dated View-hill, Cambridge Gulf, March 20th last :— " Since writing 1 you last I have had an interview with. M'Phee, who came down from the diggings the day we arrived here. He speaks most favourably of the diggings, and informed me that there are some fifty or sixty men up there prospecting on the Ord, Margaret, Panton, and Elvira rivers, and that they are all getting gold; He has himself shown me a parcel of coarse gold which he has brought down — about 2ozs.— a portion of SOoz. got by bis party in a few days. ' It is a very good sample, being very clean and coarse, and several of the pieces being from 4 dwt. to 6 dwt. They often get 3 oss. a day. This lot he got ,in a few days, in an entirely different locality from that' where it is reported that other men were getting plenty of gold. M'Phee would not have com* down now, but he had entirely run out of rations, and came down here for supplies. He Has left his party where he found gold. He returns with me to-morrow, and we will travel as quickly as possible to the scene of the diggings, from whence I hope to send you a good report shortly. "We will leave 'the river above 40 miles from here and then travel to the west of it and West of Carr Boyd Range Lake on to the head of the Brow, and to the West of the Bough Ranges I met with on my first trip,, and from thence across the low broken ranges to the head of the Ord, thenoe to Panten and Elvira, which hitter place I hope to reach in a little over 200 miles When I arrived here I found several prospectors waiting for a chance to go to the diggings. I have made arrangements with them to travel with me, I carrying their swags and digging implements, and feeding them on the way. The more good men that reach the scene of the digging the better it will be f»r the country. At the present time there are no pack-horses here to pack the provisions on to the diggings consequently the necessaries of life are very dear. I understand all the gold found up to the present time has been got in creeks and gullies, without any labour in digging P.B. — The enclosed information re the gold fields is authentic, as M'Phee has himself given it to me, and he is a reliable man (Signed) W. J. O'D."

From a letter which we (Auckland Bell) have received from opd of the passengers who left in the Rotomahana for Sydney en route for Kfrnberley, we take the following. It is dated 25th May :— V Sir,— We got clear ef the Rotomahana early this morning. About 50 of us rushed to the A.S.N. Co.'s office with a riow of obtaining our fare or passage, to Kimberley; we were told it was full. No passage could be obtained. The Victoria will sail to-morrow* The s;s. 1 Afghan sailed to-day with 250 horses, drays, pack-eaddjes, and stores. Any amount of passengers ventured to sleep on deck, and pay £8 for that privilege. The Gambia left on last Saturday, overcrowded with horses and men, also stores. I never witnessed, such excitement. Another boat is laid on, chartered by a storekeeper. I have not had time to ascertain her name. She will sail about the 27th ; instant. We most make a rusk for her to-morrow. Twelve thousand ounces of gold came down by escort May 8. Everyone here seoms to be greatly excited over this goldfield. How it will end I do not know."

(BBUTSB's TKCKOBAXS.)

MflLßotrftNH, June 9.

The Argus this morning publishes a telegram from its West Australian correspondent announcing that at present 70 men are employed at Kimberley, otl at surface workings and they have all obtained more or less gold. .