GOLD RUSH

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1932, Page 7

GOLD RUSH

LURE OF THE GRANITES. AEROPLANES HELP. SYDNEY, October 13. The Granites, the scene of. Australia’s latest gold rush!, is situated in the heart of Australia, 400 miles from the railhead at Alice Springs, in South Australia, and people ar e wondering whether ia new Ooolgardie has been discovered. Cynics refus e to believe that the latest adventure is anything but a pure gamble, but it must be admitted, that the facts are against, them. From time to time stories have been told of reefs of fabulous wealth in Central Australia, but the conditions have made it impossible to work these. Even now it is uncertain whether it will be possible to win the gold from some of the most treacherous country in the world, where water is scarce and where everything Is against the prospector. >lany a brave prospector has given h life in a search for gold in this cruel country, and It is safe to predict that many more lives will be sacrificed before complete success is achieved,

•Living conditions a-t The Granites are reported to be atrocious, but men greedy (for gold will overlook comforts, their vision being dazzled by the prospect' of a life of wealth and ease to come—after they have struck it rich. There is only one well on the field, and its. capacity is not greater than 100 gallons a day. Well-sinkers have gone from Adelaide to deepen it, but they can do nothing to improve the quality of th supply. Special health regulation? pro vide that all water must be boiled be fore it is consumed, and enough Condy’s crystals to cover a. sixpenny-piece mvst be added to each four-gallon -drum. Animals and insects of all sorts enter the well, and the water quickly becomes tainted and dangerous for human consumption. Flies ar.e there in millions, and food has to Ibe kept covered. Aeroplanes have been utilised 'by some of the parties to get supplies to the new goldfield, but there is no suitable landing place near The Granites. .Steps are now being made to provide one. When this work is finished the aeroplane will b c a valuabl e adjunct in the gold rush for at present the -journey from Alice Springs means months of dangerous travelling. Aboriginos abound in the locality, and already they have -succeeded in frightening many of the prospectors. Thieving by the natives has been rampant, and some of the oris inn I pfospentora have been so scared by the activities of the 'b-'aeks that they have .sold their claims to newcomers and have returned to civilisation. It ia on record, too, that three prospectors who showed a fairly substantial yield for a few weeks’ work sold their claim for £l-500 and left for M«Vbourne in Time to witness the Melbourne Cap. They had had quite enough o'f prospecting in Central Australia. : l.i