THE PALMER RIVER DIGGINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 315, 22 September 1874, Page 4

T HE P AL ME R R IV E R DIGGINGS.

The following description of Palmerville is supplied by a correspondent of theCooktown Courier:— After leaving the Kennedy s few miles, a peculiar flat-topped hill appears rising abruptly from the surrounding ece'neryi and from this hill, aboat a mile or a mile and a! half, the Palmer Biyfij^ffitraefc-. This is a very vide stream, about half a mile wide on the average, and masses of- sand, whit* and glistening in the eon, show the immense po^pr^f the flood waters. The river bed is covered; with a-specjes of willow, all bending one way down the stream; other trees and shrubs there are, but slanted in appearance; there is a good stream of water running,, and splendid feed on the* left bank. Eight miles from the crossing is the township of Palmerville. A . curious (shaped pyramidical hill is seen before entering the town, some four miles away, and is a prominent landmark. The township of Palmerville is pleasantly . situated upon the left bank of the river, and the site is advisably chosen, the ground beijig h^gh^d dry; the main street is, ab'&ut two'bondred. yards long, and has storefewad* pablic-hooees on both sides; there are now six hotels, six stores, three blacksmiths, two botchers, one baker,, qq& circulating library, one bootmsker^ one Chinese store, Commissioner's Cft&)p,i poat-ioffice, &c. ; altogether, the town is in a fair way of doKigweU. l The rnßh to Sandy Creek is over^that is to say, men are still doing well, but nothing to warrant any excitement has taken place recently i I fiiir Jfssdp is en route with 160 ozs as his share; others I have heard of having more, but of course I cannot vouch for the truth. I reserve all comments on the rush for a future letter, and in my next I will endeavor to give a faithful account of Sandy I Creek doings, past and present. Men are" repeatedly coming to the Palmerville' with a few pounds weight of gold, so that is c sign of general well-doing. Another correspondent writing on a reeenfrdate says : — " The Lord Ashley, this day week, took; down over lOOOoza. This amount showed on the Custom-houne books, bn^if jsUtig. general opinion of those wh^pi'oaght.tp know that fully 4000ozs more were taken down by persons who neglected to pass their gold. By the Boomerang, on Wednesday, 80O3ozs 2dwtß 2grs, were shipped, making a total of between 9000ozs and IO.OOOozs shipped darTrig ! the week; but by tbe Boomerang $ large atnoupt of gold was also taken down without entries being passed. This is a most foolish custom, and we would "warn miners against it. Under the present regulations there is so duty to pay, and it therefore costs them nothing but tbe trouble to pass their gold at the Customs; yet gold not so passed is liable to forfeiture on' 9 discovery. Townsville teamsters are asking £130 per ton from thence to the Palmer, and hard to be obtained even at that figure. This is another warniog that prompt measures on tbe subject should be at once initiated, or ws«e ; wiit the unfortunate diggers in th*t locality be when the wet season seta in: and blocks communication in eVery direction.