WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1510, 25 May 1886, Page 1

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

r Pho following letter has been received by a Dunedin resident from a brother-in- ~ law in Western Australia : Derby, W.A., April Ist, 188 G. " I received about three months’ gathering of letters last week. The rainy season set in, and the rivers became to high and the country so boggy that travelling became impossible for nearly three months. Gold has been discovered about 800 miles from Derby, and several parties of men have come in, all’ of them having ; gold. The magistrate posted up that two men had 150 oz. One nugget weighed 18oz nod some : pennyweights, I gave £lO to a digger to fit him out some five months ago. He was up there when one party came in, and I heard he was doing well. 1 expect him down shortly, and will return with him—or indeed 1 may atari before he comes. ;I have one horse, and a-half share of another. I was very lucky in getting them before the gold news camo, t r now they cannot be hud in Derby, and besides there are very few horses in the country. The gold is found at a depth of 18ln, < and is over a very large scope of country. There will be thousands of people here in six months. The storekeepers have engaged teams and (hey start as soon as the country is dry. The country is not good for sheep, but splendid for cattle. There is no market, however, for cattle, so cattle-rearing is neglected. Sheep-reariog is equally hazardous, for sheep sell at present for 15s per head at Roebourie, some 400 miles from Derby, and to drive tin m4OO miles would likely increase their cash to 30- p- r head. Then ail the white meu are leaving the stations for.the_j« diggings, so that sheep and shepherds are at the mercy of the blacks. lam off fur the digg ngs, and will write you from J Gold Town nexi mdl. —D. Sutherland.