(From Auckland " Stab,"—May 4.) THE KIMBERLEY RUSH. Latest Accounts from the Field.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 153, 8 May 1886, Page 6

(From Auckland " Stab,"— May 4.)

THE KIMBERLEY RUSH. Latest Accounts from the Field.

The large number of persons who assembled at the meeting on Saturday to consider the proposed expedition to the Kimberley goldfields is evidence enough of the readiness of our miners to brave the terrors of the Australian desert in pursuit of fortune, if the inducements are only strong enough. An idea seems to prevail that soma of the accoonts reprinted from Australian journals were coloured, with the object of preventing the exodus of population. Such an opinion can only be entertained by men who have no knowledge of the difficulties of travelling in Central Australia. The account we published in our Saturday SuPPiiEMB^TT, from the pen of the Government Geologist, cannot be open to that charge. From this it appeared that the field is 400 miles from Derby, the most accessible port, and the great sandy desert lies between the grass country along the Fitzroy River and the field. Yesterday, a Router's telegram from Perth, the capital Western Australia, warned miners that only those who are prepared for a journey of 300 miles inland should venture. A correspondent, "Papua," who is personally acquainted with Mr Harry Stockdale, whose namo has been associated with the discovery, sends us the following condensed account of Mr Stockdale's last expedition to that district, as he related it to the writer : — " Stockdale, with a party of ten men, arrived by the s.s. Port Phillip, in the Cambridge Gulf, last July. They had 15 horses with them. After a short delay the party started inland southwards, to a place called the Wild Goose Lagoon. The rate of progress was very slow, the country being rough, and ten miles per day was their average *rate of progression. At this Lagoon a camp was formed, and five men being left in charge, the remainder proceeded, each one having besides the horse he rode two others carrying provisions, &c. After undergoing great privations, the party returned to camp in September. Travelling southwards, and crossing the Forrest, Lorrimer, Stockdale, and other rivers, to a distance of about 150 miles inland, they found the first part of their journey bad in the extreme, but afterwards their track led through fine grass-covered table lands. Noble rivers have cut great gorges — in some places 1,500 feet deep— through these elevated plains, and these form obstacles to the traveller of no mean nature. Numbers of natives were seen, but they seHom interfered with the explorers. Kangaroos were also found, sometimes in large numbers. Fish in the rivers and turtle on the islands of the Cambridge Gulf, seem to abound. Stockdale speaks highly of the grass country for grazing purposes, but did not put much stress on the future of that part of Western Australia as a goldfield. Gold in small quantities was found in several rivers crossed. He spoke of the climate of the uplands as being good, but as he advised those going to the district to take plenty of quinine, one may imagine what the lower lancl is like. Stookdale is, with a large party, at the present time further exploring the district." If the Kimberley goldfield should turn out another Bendigo, the tramp of the miners through the wilderness will soon' make a good highway ; but as yet, on the very meagre reports we have received, it. would be 'nothing short of madness for ja crowd of ill-provided miners' to 'undertake the work of Central Australian exploration, which has resulted in the death of so many hardy explorers, provided with the best equipments for pursuing it with safety,

The Perth correspondent of the Melbourne «• Age," under date April 10, givea some interesting particulars respecting the recent find, ' including extracts from the report of Mr Carlisle, whose party brought 70oz of gold to Derby. He .writes : In October last a man named .Carlisle organised a party to proceed into the interior by way of Cambridge Gulf, and obtained horses from the Government for the purpose. They made their way down Parry Creek, struck across to the Ord, and followed it until thby came upon its junction with the If raaer. They detached a party to examine the Fraser, but without result, for though they saw gold-bearing, quartz, they did not consider that the precious metal existed in payable quantities. Returning to tba Ord they followed its course again until they came upon its junction with the Panton, and here they found themselves in a highly promising gold country. Up to this point they had found plenty of feed for their horses, and game and fish for their own uses, but the country before them was unpromising for their horses, and they split into two parties. At this time, also, they were joined: by some Queenslanders, who had come- to the Kimberley district overland, having been three months on the way. They also met another prospecting party headed by the Campbell brothers;" who had been prospecting up the creeks of the Panton A day or two later two of Mr Panton's party were sent out to find feed for the horses, and returned on the same day with the news that they had found a gully in which was payable gold. They made for this place, which is under somo hills called the Black Ranges, and about 10 miles from the head of the Panton ■ They eet to work in a dry creek bed, packing the dirb half a mile for water. Though there are no appearances of gold in the ground, the result of their work was highly satisfactory. By ssmply fossicking, some nuggets varying from an ounce downwards were found, while a week's work of three men brought a return of 12ozs 12dwts. In the following week the results were unsatisfactory, as a sudden flood, following upon a thunderstorm, carried away the dirt they had-jsollected for washing. In the third week they were able to work only four days, but got over 14oz. They remained at the creek tor five weeks, by which time they had used up all the likely ground, and obtained over 70ozs. They then, through lack of rations, were obliged to make tor Derby, which place, after many dfiiculties and dangers, they reached late in March. Since his arrival, some more of the men who had been prospecting returned to Derby, and altogether they had amongst them about 150ozs. Campbells party and some Queenslanders were left on the goldfield working. Mr Carlisle, in his official report submitted to the Government today (April 18), says :— There are now five parties in this camp, including ourselves. Two men f osaicking with adishjustaboveour claim picked up two pieces, one about an ounce, and the other half an ounce, which proves beyond a doubt that there is heavy gold to be got, but as there is no gold to be seen in the quartz, it is rather a mystery where ib comes from." They continued working at this creek up to Thursday, February 11, having then worked out all the payable ground. They had worked in the bed of the gully for 200 yds, the width being from 4ft to sft, arid the depth of the ground from 6in to Sin. The total amount of gold Mr Carlisle's party had taken out of the gully was about 70oz. Mr Carlisle continues : "I have not the slightest doubt that this will I urn' out a great goldfield. All who have rations to step six months longer are quite sanguine of making a good thing of it, but gold cannot be found everywhere. It requires an experienced digger to look for it, and it will require a man to have at least £130 to fit himself out with rations, horses, and toolo for a six months' trip. There are about from 30 to 40 men on the field at the present time. Moat ot them are from Queensland, and they are the right sort of men — good practical diggers, and possessing a little capital. There is a vast extent of country to be prospected yet, and I have no doubt that there will be a great rush from Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. We have no chance of prospecting the other parts of the country, as we have been working in one gully from first to last, in all about five weeks. The gully where we have been working is situated on the Denison Plains, |on that branch of the Elvira called the Black Elvira. It is about 15 miles above the main branch of the Elvira, running north west of the Black Elvira running south-west. We were working within half a mile of the foot of a range of low kncbby hills of sandstone formation. The whole formation of the country is sandstone, quartz, and slate. The creeks, gullies, and rivers have invariably a slaty bottom. It is a hard country to travel in. It is one mass of creeks, gullies, and ravines, intersecting and crossing each other in all directions, and overgrown everywhere with spinifex. Not a blade of grass is to be seen, except on the creeks and rivers, where, at the present time, there is good grass and plenty of it for a limited number of horses. Should there be a good influx of diggers, all of them with horses, I am afraid there will be some difficulty in finding grass for them. The best time to arrive is the middle of December, just before the rains set in and the grass is beginning to spting up. The great difficulty at the present time is to get rations and other requisites. They can only be got at Derby or Cambridge Gulf, and either places is about 400 miles from here. On February 13 they started for Derby and suffered greatly on the way from shortness of rations and the roughtness of the country, but arrived safely on March 13. It is currently reported that Mr Carlisle's party brought with them a great deal more gold than the quantity made public. They have sold it to the local banks. There are sound grounds for the rumours upon* this matter which are being spread. The Government are about to issue new maps of the gold-bearing district, and are considering the appointment of a warden. They are despatching to the goldfieid from Derby Sergeant Trow and some police to ascertain the exact state of affairs with a view to their futuje action. As to the route to be taken ■ by prospecting parties, it is considered by those who have been to the fields that Derby is a better 'starting place than Cambridge Gulf, though the latter is the nearer way. Towards the end of last year the Government instructed Mr Malet and Mr M'Ewan, of Derby, to proceed frdm Derby to Mount Barrett for the 'purpose of laying out a road for parties to take. Mr Malet got to within 30 miles of Mount Barrett, but- failed to reach it, owing to his spending some days in following the tracks of some ah od horses and to his rations running-low. ''He says in his report : — "I consider that there will *be no difficulty in getting water on this route during the greater part of the year, as there seems to be a good supply nearly everywhere. The

by offering thpm borrowed money to borrow against nt n higher rate of interest ; that promised to nbnlish thn property tax and then increased it ; that was led by a Premier who openly boasted of having used his position to favour his own dis trict in the matter of public works, at tlio expense of the r rt st of the colony ; that promised to put down Native Lund shavkin;r and Ministerial patroaaire in native titfes, «nd introduced. a bill (unintentionally, I believe), hi2,hlj T conducive to both; that promised to reduce taxation, and, in addition to seizing the Sinking Fund increased the Customs, the Propeity Tax, and the stamp duties ; that endeavoured to £oi«t MrMusrs and Co. on the colony ; that promised reform in the Upper House, and kept it by putting in more new men in o n e year than their predecessors had in five ; that, in oider to reward a political supporter unseated a pond thnirman, who refused to accept pny in favour of an indifferent one, who did accept it ; that po>ed as friends of the masses, and yet endeav oured to more heavily tax the necessaries of life and relieve propei ties fiom just taxation ; and that promised that nothing but physical forct; would remove them from the Treasury Benche", and kept that promise. It nftords me no pleisnre to say this even of my political opponents, but there are times when one must speak plainly. However, when nvneinbering the individual abilities of Minister*, and the zeal of some of th*»m, I have still a Hn^erinj^ hope that out or all their trials and tribulations good may come, and that by and-bye they might learn what the colony really needed. (Applause.)

The Gharnnn then invited questions. Mr J.ime-* Muuro a»ke<l Mr Whyte if he voted against eight hours being recognised in New Zetland as the day for the workins: m-in ? Mr Whyt-* replied that he voted against the Eight- Hours BiU. became he considered it only so much wa-te piper, for it coiild be up<«et by any written agreement bptween master and employee. Mr James Mills alto refeired to this matter, and some little discussicn endued, which endi-d by Mr Whyte stating that if tliey really thought the passing of the Bill would he of so much practical u«e, he would certainly vote in favour of it to please them ; but he did not think it would make any great difference whether it passed or not. (Applause.) A Voice : H Oh don't vote against your conscience." (Laughter.) Mr Munro askei for Mr White's views with regard to the phnality of rotes Mr Whyte said he leaily thought that a man who hud a great interest in the country should have more Votes than :i tu.m who carried his swag fr.uu place to place — (cries of "' No ! no.) — but he would limit the voting power of any mm to two votes, — one for the district in which he re-ided, and another for the district in which he owned property. Mr Munro asked another question in connection with the Waiharakeke block abou: which Mr Whytu had previous!} made *ome promises. Mr Wh\te explained the course he had followed with respect to this matter, by stating that, early in the session he w.i^ asked by some who were now members of the Goidon Special Settlement, to use his influence to obtain this block of land for npeeial settlement. He promptly com plied with the request, and proceeded to put everything iv proper train. At thU time, ami until long uftHrwanK there w.i* no mention of a Bill embodying a claim by Hussell on this block. Towards the t'tid of the session lie w.is informed th.it this hmd was covered l»v Russell*.*! cl.iim, and he Wjjs asked if he did not consider that Rtt-sell had a claim. He replied that he certainly thought th.it he h.td a claim, which should be settled either in money or in land : and that if it came before the Hou-e ho must, in common honesty. vote for it ; but that he knew perft-ctly well Ilu^sell had not the slightest chance of getting the laud ; and even if the Bill passed a second re.nl ing, it was certain to be altered to a money payment in Committee. He was theiefore able to give a consistent vote without injuring anyone. He had taken a great deal of trouble to have this matter sitisfactorily settled, and the land set apart for these settlers. TJii-» Bill did not cor.-c down as a separate Bill, but was included in the Special Powers ana Contracts Bill at the very close of the session, and was, as he anticipated, thrown out by a very large majority. Mr James Mills asked Mr Whyte •whether he was in favour cf removing taxation from the necessaries of life ? Mr Whyte replied that, last session he steadily voted against any increase of taxation on articles termed necessaries of life. In reply to Mr Mills, Mr Whyte said he was in favour of taxing property. He was in favour of a land tax, which they really had in the Property Tax. He did not believe, however, in a m.in being taxed up to £1000, whilst the mortgagee got off without pay ment. No further questions being put, Mr T. Wood rose and said, he had great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Whyte for his address, and of confidence in him as their representative. Mr Robson seconded the motion. Mr James Munro proposed, as an amendment, "That a vote of thanks be given to Mr Whyte for his courtesy in addressing the electors to-night" Mr Montague heconded. A nhow of hands wjir taken, with the result that twelve voted for tha amendment, and about forty or fifty for the original motion, which was declared carried, amidst err eat applause. Mr Whyte, in conclusion, said : Gentlemen, I thank you all for the vote you have accorded me. There appears to have been a slight misunderstanding on the part of one or two of my old friends, but I hope they aro now satisfied, and will return to their old friendship, and try to forgive what was, I conceive, a misapprehension. If my friends differed from me in general politics, I can only regret it ; but I cannot trim my sails to every breeze that blows. However, I will say, that if at variance with a majority of my constituents, I would not wait for an election to resign, but would do so at once. Again I thank you for your vote. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. We may add that the Hall was crowded on this occasion, by a thoroughly representative audience, and much interest was taken in the evening's proceeding?.