THE KIMBERLEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1742, 24 June 1886, Page 4

THE KIMBERLEY.

From Australian papers to hand we take the following :— Mr J. M. Cayne has arrived at Derby with gold. The following intelligence has been telegraphed to the Townsville Bulletin from jti Herberton correspondent : — " George Thlfcof Herberton, has received a letter^Slted 7th April, from a wellknown miner>narned Dan Dadry, who le£t Herberton some months since for the Elvira river, m Western Australia. Ho stated that twenty men m that country during the last wet season all got a little gold, the total perhaps being 1000oz, All the diggers are leaving for Derby for rations. The trip to and from takes three months. He says that men would be mad to vo there till aiter the rain. He has been liviner for fourteen weeks on damper and tea, with no sugar. He prospected the Margaret river for a long distance, and found gold for fifty miles m a narrow ravine. Now that the water has given out, no gold can be obtained till the rains m November. He states that unless better country is found, it would be madness for anyone to go there. Nothing payablo has been discovered there up to the date of his letter. The Elvira river is 360 miles from Derby. He says it is dreadfully hard to live on that diggings. Horses are worth £36 each at Derby." The tjreatest excitement prevails at Townsville, and numbers are going to Kiinberley, although some experienced . diggers are holding back for more information. The report that one man found a nugget weighing 700oz is causing great excitement amongst the passengers on board the Victoria and Afghan. New 13outh Wales people are strongly advised not to rush to the diggings too impetn-o-isly, or mucli misery and privation will ensue. Mr Kilfoyle, of the Ord river, arrived at Katherine on June 7, and reports that the Kimberley s:old field is situated on the Elvira river, which runs into the Piinton river. Tfce Panton river runs into the Ord river eight miles above Messrs Osmond and Paton's cattle station, the total distancefrom the cattle station to the diggings being about 85 miles. There is a ajood track all the way, and the diggers obtain their meat sup plies from Messrs Osmond and Paton's station. MrW. J. O'Donnell, the wellknow explorer, who is packing rations from Cambridge Gulf to the diggings, report* that every man who was first on the field has got gold mostly m good quantities. A quantity of gold is being held on the fields. Everyone who has been down for rations had gold m his possession. Mr O'Donnell sold one load of rations on the digging at the following rates :— £lour, Is 3d per lb ; sugar, Is per lb ; tea, 4s per lb. The distance %'.) the goldfields from Cambridge Gulf by O'Donnell's new track is about 170 voiles. Mr Kilfoyle recommends persons going to the diggings by sea to land at Cambridge Gulf, and aleo to bring horses. Travelling by land from Katherine — a distance of about 580 miles— is by a good road. The longest stage without water is 20 miles. When Mr O'Donnell lett the dtggings for Cambridge Gulf there ■were about 70 men working. All had gold. The country at the. diggings is getting dry. Mr Price, the Government Resident at Cambridge Gulf, will visit the place, and proclaim the goldiield, There are no wardens there yet, and no Chinese allowed on the ground. The sinking is only 10 inches. No gold has been discovered on the Margaret yet. A great number of Queensland diggers are passing Katherine every week on the way overland to Kimberley.