THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

Kumara Times, Issue 3017, 5 July 1886, Page 2

THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

DISCOURAGING ACCOUNTS. diSBB A telegram from Townsvillc states that a man named Andrew Busteed arrived at that place by the steamer Galveston on Monday from Port Darwin. In a letter to the Townsville Bulletin he.states that he visited Derby, and left there on 22nd May. He had several conversations with Hall and Slattery and Moore and Hedley. He asserts that the quantity of gold said to be received at Derby is grossly exaggerated. Moore and Hedley, who brought most of the gold down, only got 2700z5., and the report that they got 500ozs. is incorrect. Hall and Slattery did not get 200ozs. altogether. They told Busteed that the country was very rough where the gold was best, but that a we'l-equipped party had a show in the wet season. They state that it would be madness for anyone to go befoie November. They are going back, and reckon to make wages. Hall and Slatteiy's party comprises five men, including M'Gluglue and 15 horses; Moore and Hedley, two men and 12 horses. One man, who went overland from Port Darwin with three horses, obtained 40ozs. Over 170 men were encamped at Derby before the Gambier, Afghan, Victoria, or Airlie arrived, and many were then wishing they could get back. The storekeepers were very apprehensive of a riot. All aver that they are not responsible for the report, and Adcock Brothers, the chief storekeepers, produced their letter-book to show that they were not guilty of exaggerating statements, and it is authoritatively stated that not 800ozs of gold have come into Derby. All the prospectors are unanimous in stating that Cambridge Gulf is the best port. The following is an extract from a private letter from a digger, which is published in the Carcoar Chronicle. It is datod Derby, 3rd May :—»I have landed in Derby onco mote, and had very bad luck. Just as we got on to a bit of gold two of us got on the sick list, and rations ran rather low, and we had to clear out, with only 30z..0f gold per man. There is nothing permanent known so far; it i s merely guliy-rak-ing. What gold is got is in the

ravines, near the top of the hills. In the main creeks you cannot get more than the colour. So for the present it is hard to say how it will turn out. I believe there will be a great rush, «nd lam sorry for it. There is no likelihood of tucker getting to the field for some time, so every man has to carry his own tucker,' and that means three pack horses and a saddle horse, and horses here now are worth £25 to £3O; so that a man wants a good cheque to start with, and that is pretty travel, and it is a fever country too j very few escape it. I have had two attacks of it. lam off <-for the hills again this week. I expect in another month the rush will have set in properly. There are 87 men by the latest steamer. Some of them have shipped horses, so they mean to go through." Two steamers left Melbourne on the 21st inst. with passengers for Cambridge Gulf en route to the Kimberley 'Hgginjjs. The steamer Catterthun ook 100 passengers from Melbourne, 30 from Adelaide, and 40 were booked from Sydney. She also had on board 105 horses—7s shipped from MelWourne and 30 from Adelaide. A ■lozen drays and waggons were placed on board at Saodridge; also a large quantity of stores and diggors' requisites. The Simla took 50 passengers on board from Melbourne, 70 from Adelaide, and had 50 booked from Sydney. Thirty horses were put on board by Melbourne shippers, and 35 horses and seren donkeys from Adelaide were also shipped. A lot of drays and picks, spades and tenls also formed part of her cargo. [united press association.] Ltttelton, July 3. The s.s. Triumph left for Wel'ington shortly after 4 p.m. to-day. She took 150 passengers and 160 horses from here for Derby. All classes were represented among her passengers, though most of them seem of the laboring class. Not a few have had diggings'experience. There was great excitement in Christchurch and Lyttelton over her departure. 1500 people came through from Christchurch to see the vessel off, and most of the population of Lyttelton were gathered on the wharves. The vessel was heartily cheered as she steamed out of the basin.