THE NEW RUSH TO THE PALMER GOLDFIELD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5450, 14 September 1878, Page 3

THE NEW RUSH TO THE PALMER GOLDFIELD.

(From tlib Queenslander, August 21.) Warden Sellheim’a report from the above goldfield for the month of July states : “ The most important event during the period, and one that is sure to affect the prosperity of this goldfield most beneficially at the present time, is the discovery made towards the end of the month of payable alluvial gold in the bed of the main river below Palmerville. I received private information on the evening of July 25 of a rush likely to set in down the river, aud I proceeded in that direction on the morning of the 26tb ultimo. The first payable gold was found in the bed of the Palmer, about thirty miles bdow Palmervilie, reck- ning -the distance by the track that follows more or less the windings of the river. From this point to the lowest present workings, by the river, cauuot bo less than forty miles. The gold, as a rule, is 'fine and scaly, , aud confined to the river-bed. It is evidently derived from the gold-bearing rocks higher up the river, and has been caught aud retained by the numerous mica-schist aud porphyrit c graiiite bars that intersect, and in many localities choke up, the river-bed. X did not observe any local source that would account for the gold found here, though the prospecting of some blocks of quartz noticed by mo may throw some further light on this point hereafter. I may state hero that I was particularly struck with the extent of metaraorphic agencies that evidently have been at work in this part of the goldfield, aud that, from the superposition, and the similarity in strike and dip of the different formations, the highly erystalino schists, forming the, leading features of this particular district are doubtlessly the analogues of tbo silicious 'and clay slates forming the mountains of the Upper Palmer. At the time of my visit about 500 men, had arrived on the ground, and were making by menus of the cradle from 2dwt. to 4dwt. per day, I have been told of some men making considerably, more, but I am confident that from the fineness of the gold, and tbo exceptional nature of its deposition after having been carried by Hood water in a state of suspension for a long distance, rich patches will form only an exceptional feature of this part of the goldfield. I think, however, that this new ground will bo the means of providing profitable employment for a largo Chinese population for a couple of years to come, and avert the starvation that otherwise assuredly would have overtaken these people during this very dry season. About a hundred white men, mostly disappointed diggers from the Coen rush, and a sprinkling of the wages, men of the Maytown reefs, have bent their steps in the direction of the Lower Palmer, and I think, if satisfied with fair wages, will stay on the now ground for some time. I have laid off a new township, which I have taken the liberty to name LnUinviilc, near the confluence of Garnet Creek with tho Palmer river, and directed Warden Towner to form hia

camp iu some central position on the new ground. Application has also been made to the police authorities for the necessary men to maintain order. It is my intention to proceed to Luldnville and the other camps that probably by this time have been formed lower down the river, within the next week. Ou my return from my first visit of inspection, in striking across the bush, I found au excellent dray road, perfectly level, and that, with the exception of tiie making of a crossing-place over a creek with rather steep banks, is available for wheel traffic at once, and which brings Lukinville within a distance of twenty miles of I’ahuerville. Beef is at present sold at 9d per lb. on tho rush, and rice was at the rate of 445. per bag. As, however, there is hardly a business mau on the goldfield that is not either contemplating forming a branch establishment or removing altogether to the lower part of the river, before long the necessaries of life will most likely, as a natural cansequence of competition, be procurable ou the new ground at fair and reasonable rates. “ Iu consequence of this and the Coen rush, operations on the reefs have been confined in most cases simply to holding the ground, as men were not to be bad at auy wages, and no crusbiugs have taken place during the month. I may state hero, however, for your information, that what bad been assumed the natural water level—at any rate, on the Queen of the North line—lias been proved to be only surface .water, as iu tho above claim, at the present moment, the shareholders are working the reef in black slate, and in perfectly dry ground, at a level 30ft. below that from which their steam pump drains at present. The quartz ou this Hue, since sinking in tiie black slate, is turning out all that can be desired, aud gives promise of splendid crusbiugs.

“ Fever remains a very prevalent disease on the goldfield, and Warden Towner reports having found not less than twelve ’ sufferers from this complaint amongst the inmates of a small camp at Mick Gchau’s Creek. Sir. Towner also reports good returns of- tin being got by the shucers iu Granite Creek, but that their supply of water most likely will only stand to them another fortnight. He says it is the intention of some of the Stony Creek storekeepers to open business places in the immediate vicinity of tiie stream tin workings as soon as the wet season sets iu again, "Several robberies, some of considerable magnitude, have taken place in this and some "of the other townships on this goldfield before the setting-iu of the last rush, bat as no further offences of this kind have been reported of late, it may bo assumed that the perpetrators of these crimes were Chinamen that were unable to get gold at the time. “In all other respects I can at present report this goldfield as perfectly orderly.”