THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 284, 1 December 1874, Page 4

THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

From b late letter of the Palmer correspondent of the Cooktown Courier we make the following extracts: — FAMINE PRICES. It would almost appear that the very enterprising merchants of Cooktown had conspired together to draw the entire digging population of the Palmer to the port, by stopping (he supplies; otherwise why have not arrangements been made for adequately provisioning these diggings? Paris was scarcely worse off daring the latter days of the aiege than the Palmer is at the present moment, except in the matter of beef, which, at Is a pound, is the only cheap thing we have on the diggings, and the only think that keeps body and soul together. A comparison of the prices ruling at the Weddin Mountain rush, in New South Wales, 300 miles from port, and those ruling at the Palmer 160 miles from port, is strikingly suggestive of mismanagement some* where:— Weddin Mountain rush, (N.S.W) 300 miles from port.-— Bread (brought to digger's tents) 21b. loaf, 4d; beef (steaks), 3d.— (At the Lacblan rosb, with its population of 40,000 diggers, beef was at one time sold 141db for a shilling.) — Tea, per Ib, 3s 6J; sugar, 4d; tobacco, 6a; English potatoes, per cwr, 2a 6d; to ss; pickles, per bottle Is 3d; jams, per tin, Is; floor, per lb, 2d; blucher boots, 68; brandy, per bottle, 4s 6d; porter, 2s 6d; vinegar, 8d; salt, per lb, Id; sperm candles (16ozs), Is; apples, per lb, 6d; horse-sboeiDg, 63; and other goods at correspondingly low prices. Oakey Creek, Palmer Rush, 160 miles from port. — Flour (wben obtainable) per lb, 3s 6d to 4s; damper, (to travellers), per lb 4s; beef, Is; tea, 63; sugar, 38 9d; tobacco, 12s; rice, 4s; English potatoes, per lb 3s; fresh potatoes, 3s; (on Stoney Creek, 4s 6d per lb); pickles, per bottle, 4s; jams, per tin, 3s 6d; blucher boots (according to quantity on diggiogs), 25s to 455; brandy, per bottle, 20s; porter, 10.-; vinegar, 203; salt, per lb, 33; candlee, per lb, 63; apples, per lb, 3s 9J; preserved potatoes, per lb, 3s 6d; oatmeal, per lb, 3s 9d; horse-shoeing, 30s; and other goods at correspondingly crushing prices. It is extraordinary indeed that some large firm has not long ago established a depot at Palmerville, and another at Edward's camp, for supplying this important goldfield with rations, and thus take advantage of a singularly favorable opportunity of realising a splendid fortune in a comparatively short time, and making stationary a population of some 4000 or 5000 mioers, of whom hundreds are now leaving daily, disheartened and disgusted; a very great namber never again to return. As it now is, the digger is dependent on a few packers BGd shanty keepers, scarcely one of whom has the slightest knowledge of business — parasites who have made a rich harvest out of the Palmer diggess on a capital of perhaps a couple of mo lee, or three or four broken-winded horses, or a couple of gallons of Port Mackay Hum. The storekeepers of Maryborough Bnd it necessary to advertise the reason of their advancing tba price of boots 3J per pair; but the sbamy keepers and packers of Oakey Creek think it quite unnecessary to give the diggers any reason for advancing the price of the same article 15s per pair in ona day.