THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 359, 27 May 1874, Page 3

THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

A miner recently arrived at Naseby from the Palmer Diggings, communicates the following to the " Chronicle " : —

" Left the West Coast about the end of November last for Sydney, where I arrived on Christmas Day. On the Ist January I sailed for Cooktown, which place I reached in four days — my passage money being £3 10s Cooktown is a town only in name — the stores, shanties, and tents being of a most primitive description. The entire resident population, I estimate, would be about 100. The situation of the town is alongside a river navigable to a certain extent. I purchased a paok-horse for £18, and loaded it with provisions, floor, &c, paying for these articles but a moderate price. I then started for the Palmer, the journey occupying seventeen days, and the distance I estimate to be about 200 miles. During my journey I crossed several shinglebeds, which are evidently rivers during floods from the amount of driftwood lying about. Crossed easily with our watertights. A Jarge quantity of water flows down through the shingle. The nature of the country traversed is sandy on the flats, and rolling hills with patches of timber here and there. There or no hills to speak of, and a road could easily be constructed to the diggings. The digging? are situated at the junction of the Endeavor and Palmer Rivers, and another river, the name- of which I forget. I heard of as much as one pound weight of gold per day being got. I remained here about twelve days, during which time sunk several holes, one on a creek running into the Endeavor or Palmer. It was about three feet deep and 12 x 10 — from which were taken 4| ounces of shotty gold. The dirt had to be carried some distance to the river. Finding the prospects ran ont, tried farther up same gully, but got the color only. The heat was intense, and I became very ill. My mate by this time was bedfast, and anxious to get away. We then left, and retraced our steps to Cooktown. My mate at present is an inmate of the Brisbane hospital. No medical men were on the field. I afterwards came to Otago. 44 My opinion of the Palmer River Diggings is a favourable one, and I believe it will be a rich GoJdfield ; but I am acquainted with a number of diggers — mostly new chums —who never were so fortuuate as to get even a spec. The climate, during the time I was there, was unfit for Eoropeans. Th© heat during the day is something unbearable, and at night the fog is so dense and moist that large drops adhere to the clothes — the consequences are that diarrhoea, fever, and ague are very prevalent. I think the healthiest time to be there is from July to January, as the rainy season sets in about March, and continues generally four months. Their is no meat on the diggings, and the miners subsist principally on' flour and jam. Fish, resembling mackerel/are caught in the river. Would return again to the Palmer iff unds would permit, and believe I would do well. Very little prospecting has been done. During my stay a carrier was rushed, and the provisions taken from him, bat their value was afterwards paid for in gold. The diggings are pretty orderly, in the absence of either police or Commissioner. My pick, shovel and tomahawk I sold for £5 6s. Flour is 3s per pound ; meat there is none. There is no feed for harses» M