NEW GUINEA.

Kumara Times, Issue 595, 24 August 1878, Page 2

NEW GUINEA.

The Sydney Evening News of the 30th nit. received hy telegraph from Cooktown the following letter which

reached there from a passenger by the Hibernia, dated July 22mc1 : We arrived at Port .Moresby afVr a

very stormy passage. Tlie old tub had no sails, and we lost most of the old rags, and had to run into Redscar Bay to repair the canvas. We a: rived at last, and landed our horses, which we all thought would never be landed alive. Matters do not look rosy just now. A party of five are up country, of winm; nothing is known as to what is doimr. The rest are in Port Moresby, more or less down with fever. Most of ikem, though anxious for New Guinea, are not the right stamp of uieu to prospect. The colour was found all along the Goldie River—as much as 2gr. to the dish, but that is all. It is my opinion, that the present failure arose from the prospectors starting too early in the season. When the Emily's party arrives, our party will start inland in company. Potatoes and onions are much desired. Mr Chester leaves to-morrow-in the Ellangowan, going further down the coast. 11 e fully believes there is not a vestige of Captain Redlick's property nt Brooke's Island temainiug. Mr Chester reports to the Government fully on New Guinea, and speaks sharply about allowing a rotten old vessel like the Hibernia to go to New Guinea with passengers and horses. He also warns the Government to prevent shanty - keepers fiom coming. Webb's beche-le-mer patty is doing splendid, so is Smellie's. Captain llcdlieh's storj is nearly finished. Another letter has been received per the Prospect by Mr Fred. Pogson, of this town. The writer says—" We have been up the Calloki River, 30 miles, on foot, looking for our horses, through a dense

scrub that seem i to extend over 20 miles, and on all one side of the countiy. We are going to take a different route this time, ami fancy, from wh-.t wy saw of the country, we will \>{> ;4 h|e to strike the river a good way further up by taking traoks through some open country, and reach an extensive piece ofuhleUud, which leans out on the main ranw. We found the color of gold in every dish of dirt. We washed on Goldie River, but could not bottom, the river being up ever since we have

been here. There has beeu no prospecting higher up the river than 35

mi es This best prospects gut theie . i.- iu .a lousy drift, of nearly a grain lo

the dMi. No doubt there is gold here ami if we can only s f and out we will prove it. This trip we shall be away two months only. The mm with horses go with us. A. great deal of sickness has been suffered. Everybody has had fever. There have been three deaths. Lieutenant Neville died on the roul to port, seven miles out. His body lay two clays, when decomposition set in, and it was otilv With difficulty that the party could bury him. The captain will start, immediately on our return from the trip, for Cooktown with the news of the discovery, if any. There is any amount of grass,'and orir hois-s are in splendid condition. The natives are still very much afraid of the horses, and won't come anywhere near them. If we want the natives have to send the hornes right away. Some of our party frightened the natives by telling them if they touched any horse the rest of the mob would come in during the night and e«t all the natives up. There is scarcely any tiouble with the niggers. We had a few articles stolen, but the native teacher went to the village and g< it all back. We had to go down to a large vililage one morning armed, the uiggeiS being hardy. But we put fear in tkeir, hearts since then, and they are very quiet. 'Che natives carry stores 14 miles for four n-<s of toliacc), a load of 401 b. weight."