Latest from Klondyke.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2084, 8 March 1898, Page 2

Latest from Klondyke.

The following letter has just been received by Mr Edwin Edwards, late of the 4 Ohinemuri Gazette,’ from Mr W. 0. Nicholl, the well-known prospector, who lately left Paeroa for the Klondike:-" “ Chileott Pass, January 17, I drop you a few lines to let you know what the Chileott Pass is like. I have a ton of provisions packed to the summit. It is one coutinual climb from the- time you leave Stone Horse, and a very hard one, too, the last of the climb having a grade of 45 degrees. You have to hang on to a rope to keen yourself from falling back, icicles hanging jto your beard nearly down to your waist. I Lave felt the cold worse in New Zealand than X have felt it here ; in fact, I have had no occasion to put on any more cloth- !, than I woro in Nqw Don’t let the cold frighten any on© from coming to Alaska that is not the worst : it is the other end, from what I hear from the old timers who are returning every day. They report things are in a very bad state on thefield, and the amount of gold greatly exaggerated. The Bonanza and Eldorado creeks will all be cleaned and worked out in the coming Spring, and there is nothing new found as yet to warrant the rush that is likely to taka place. They are booming the field in Victoria and Seattle. One thing came under ray own notice—a fellow named Swift Water Bill brought down, .from the field 10,000 dollars. This he reported in Victoria, and when tha Seattle papers got it, it had swollen to 50,00-D. You can place no dependence, on what you hear here. Any man intending coming here must not think that he can get to Klondike on a few pounds. There are any amount of; men here already who, have left thacolonies with - a £loff and are stuek here. There is no work,, and the tram you have heard about as being completed are only frauds. There is-littla . being done on any of them, and when they are finished.- they will only be-tin-pot things. Old Yukoners say that the field will be in a worse state forfood this year than ever it has. been,, and that there is no use of any man going there unless he has. enough to, keep him going at least two years.. There is no work on the field, and nothing for it but to prospect. There-, has been a strike on the fields wages, having been cut to a dollar an hour*. ; and men can only woik five hours a. day. The thing is not worth the candle, , and men who. are in New. Zealand had better stay there and put-, their money to some other use than spending it on. a mad trip like this. X bought my outfit in Victoria (Yan--couver), cleared the Customs there. I. had to pay 25. per ceut duty when X landed there, and they say that I will have to pay duty again when I get on the Canadian side. It is bracing and much healthier than in, New Zealand,. I will not be able to get down tha river any lower than Jjake before, the open season, as the ice on the riveris rough and but little a xnancandrawon his sleigh."