THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

Kumara Times, Issue 2987, 31 May 1886, Page 3

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

THE LATEST OFFICIAL INFORMATION. The Perth Inquirer publishes the following official information from the Government Resident at Derby (Dr. Lovegrove) and the officer in charge of the police force of that port (Sergeant Troy) as furnished by the Colonial Secretary : The Resident reports:—" I have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that several parties from the Ord goklfielcls have arrived in "Derby. The. first to arrive were four men of Carlisle's party, consisting of the leader, and Messrs Harrold, Candish and Edmonds, who bring with them 560 z. of gold. The remainder of this party, which was the one that got the survey horses from Cambridge Gulf last October, are on the other side of the Fitzroy, as yet unable to cross, as the river is running bank high. A man named Keelan, from Port Darwin, piloted Carlisle and his men down from the fields, as there were no bushmen among them. He brings 240 z. and he has left his mate at work on what promised to be a very rich gully. Another man who left here some four or five months back—J. Edgar—returned on Sunday, the 28th, bringing with him 19oz. of his own. He and his companion, a man from Port Darwin, are said to bring Sooz. M'Dermott and party, whose departure was reported to you in my predecessor's letter of the 19th September, 1885, have been on the other side of the Fitzroy for nearly three weeks, and are daily expected in. They are reported j to have brought back from 8 to lOoz. The last reports from Hall and Slat- j tery's party were not very good. On returning to the spot where they found the first gold they were unable to discover any more. Moore and Morrison, •who left here last April, are said to be doing exceedingly well. Reports as to their takings vary greatly, some saying 900 z., and some 1500 z., but no one kuows exactly what they have got. The gold is scattered over a very lar«e extent of country—almost every party has been working in a separate gully. The richest finds have been made on what the diggers have named "The Black Elvira," and the gullies round it. The creek is said to be about thirty miles south-east of Mount Barrett, j When these men left there were about forty or fifty men on the diggings, and men from Port Darwiu and Qaeenland were arriving every day." ] The police sergeant reported:— " About twenty-two men have arrived in Derby from the gold diggings since the 26th March. All sortft of wild reports are being spread as to the quantity of the gold discovered by those men, but so far I have been able to ascertain they have brought in about 150 ounces. Charles Carlisle, who \v;u; supplied by the Oovc-rnme.-ib wil 1 .) :■■ number ol .survi-.y hoious at Golf, is in. His party iH/hW; two—one party got t'mnd 30 ounces of gold and (ho other party but on;: 0ur...-.'. The most veliabiii amongst i.h;i ui «.;-;-.:<% informs me that there is ■<• luifo t->:k;hi, of aiv.ifeiGiis country, but tit;;l, the ?'..',-., is not in pay:i!>l« opiaiituks in '\.', t .-. localities he visited. It is said thac water is scarce and the natives liu;lke, All agree that the moat road in from Derbv, ami noi iVcr.i Cambridge Gulf. Tlie residents hcu are of opinion that the news brought

in by the diggers is good enough to cause a large rash to the field. I am informed that theie are at present about 150 men either on the field or en route to it from Queensland and the Northern Territory." FROM A PRIVATE LETTER. We (Adelaide Observer, Bth May) have been favoured with the following extract from a private letter, dated Perth, April 21st:—" Much gold has been found. The biggest nugget I have seen, which was bought by the Government to send to the Exhibition, was over 19oz->—a very fair specimen, The diggers all describe the Cambridge Gulf road as very bad, and that from Derby, though longer, as preferable. One digger I saw this morning told me the nights had been quite cool at the diggings, and that they worked through the middle of the day. Another private letter, dated Derby, April 18th, also states:—"Gold is plentiful. I saw a great deal of it. Over SOOozs. obtained already. Three men got 64oz*. in four days. The field is of large extent." The gentleman who furnished us with the above extracts s«ys :—" People should be cautious in proceeding to the country without having a supply of rations, &c, to last at least six months. In the winter the country becomes very boggy, and with a team there is no knowing how long you may have to remain in one spot through the boggy state of the country. Men should be provided with veils to keep off the flies, as they are very numerous in that locality, and a constant source of aanoyance. Iu fact, a few yards of mosquito-netting would be of the graatest use and comfort. Another thing : when you happen to scratch your hand the sore generally festers, and I have found Holloway's ointment of the greatest service, and a most useful thing. Eno's fruit salt also is a good medicine, and if yon don't require it yourself it acts as a sort of baking powder in making dampers. Having had a great deal of bush experience during the last year close to the Kimberley distiict, I feel that I write from experience." THE ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. A Perth telegram of May 13ih says : "The Western Australian Government have decided to proclaim a declared goldfield at Kimberley, and have appointed Government Residents at Derby and Cambridge Gulf as wardens, who will issue licenses to diggers. About forty men are at present reported to be at the diggings, and when more have arrived there a special warden will be re-appointed. Several parties are forming here to proceed to the diggings." REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOURNEY. As has been mentioned in our tele- I grams parties are being organised in Melbourne and Sydney for the diggings. , Mr Carr Boyd, the explorer, who is accompanying one of the parties from Melbourne, gives the following list of requirements for the journey to the j Kimberley goldfields : —"Two ov more horses, two pack saddles and bridles, four sets of shoes, with plenty of nails, four pairs of hobbles and chains, one large mosquito nut (6ft. by 6ft.), one ! large pair blankets, two pairs .strong ! boots, small pick and shovel, one prospecting dish, small axe, good gun, with plenty of No. 1 shot, revolver, ammunition, horse shoeing tools, saddling tools, good sheath knife, one steel, flow, sugar, salt, bacon, rice, one calico fly (for tent), preserved apples, citric acid, vinegar, quinine, Cockle's pills, tea, carbonate soda, tobacco, preserved potatoes, tinned meats, matches, castor oil, laudanum, pipes, four-quart billy, quart and pint tin, chisel, one waterproof shirt."