THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 399, 14 October 1874, Page 3

THE PALMER DIGGINGS.

(From the " Thames Advertiser")

An old Thames miner, Mr. J. W. Winters, who has been absent some two years, having visited both the Port Darwin and Palmer diggings, returned here by the Hero, and has favoured us -with the following iv« teresting notes :—: — "I left Port Darwin on March 1, with 61 other pasaeugers, on Board the Black Hawk, schooner, for Cookstown, a distance of about 1,200 miles. We got short of water the second week out in the Gulf of Carpentaria, every man on board being put on a pint of water a day and short provisions. We induced the captain to steer into Capo York, where we bought three bags of unshelled rice, 2001 bof damaged flour, and 161 bof corn flour, which was all this station could provide to keep us from starving. Five weeks after this we were picked up by the mail s.s. Jeddah, in a starving condition, in Princess Charlotte's Bay. There eight miners had left the schooner, on account of starvation, the day before the Jeddah hove in sight, and one of the party (Thomas Rubens) was speared by the blacks five minutes after landing. They were fired upon and then dispersed, the rocks sheltering their escape. The wounded man was brought on board. The party of miners proceeded on their journey through a country never before traversed by a white man, their intention being to make Cookstown or the Palmer overland. Next day we arrived at Cookstown, but had to pay £2 each to the mail boat for our passages. The rain had ceased, but tho road was in a very bad state. Hundreds were leaving Cookstown for the right and left hand brauch of the Palmer, the distance being 132 miles to -Edwardstown, or Commissioner's Camp. When I got to Hell's Gates, a man was there who had been speared. He was alone, coming clown, when two blacks attacked him, and one spear enteredhis side, another his abdomen, and one in his thigh. One was also driven into the swag, having been aimed at his head. When we arrived at the left hand branch, I and mate worked 'for several weeks, averaging 2dwt a day, excepting two days when 1 got 8 grains. All provisions were at that time 2s per lb, except tea, which was 5s per lb ; apples 3s ; and potatoes, 2s Bd. Fever and dysentery were in almost every other tent, and. brougt on fearful horrors in all shapes. I have a vivid recollection of one poor fellow I called to see when going to work each morning. He complained of being starved, and asked me not to leave him, as the tent was full of men wanting to murder him for his money. I asked him how much he had, and he said £1, which had been given him by some good Samaritan. But he did not want it, as he was dead in a few hours after our conversation. Another case was that of a man who was lying outside of his tent the same day, at dinner time. . He was not able to get up, and was unable to speak. I made inquiry about the poor fellow, and found he waa a West Coast man, but had refused letting his nest tent miner assist him. He had given 2£oz. of gold to a store man to look after his wants. I went to the tent store and found tße story waa true, when Thompson (the owner) came down, and we carried ,him into the tent, where he died immediately. Twenty men left that day for Cookstown, amongst them being one I had known on the Port Darwin diggings and an old West Coast miner. The latter never reached Cookatown, aa ho -fell sick and died in two days on the Norniandy. I got tired of the place, the scenes of sickness and death, and so left. Charley Samuel, of the Thames, and mates were going down, as they had had enough of the place. I heard afterwards that Emanucl fell sick on the way. I got into Edward's Camp the firai; night, and next morning, with my mate and two shipmates, struck across from the Chinaman's garden south. At noon we came to water where a fow tents were, and found the owners to be Jessep and party. They said they were looking to find Bycrs and party on Sandy Creek, who were reported to be making 2oz. a day We got into a creek next day, where there were four tents, but six men were sick with fever, and had worked two months on the bars until it was exhausted. Tho report was that they had between 251 b. and 301 b weight of gold a man. I averaged from 1 £oz to 2oz a day, but some of our party made 4oz and «soz, This creek was afterwards calletl-Oakey Crock. Several rushes now set in, as men were coming in by hundreds. M'Lcod's Gully, emptying into Oakey Creek, was the best spot found, several men (I knew some of them as New Zealanders) making a pound weight a-day, and some 16oz. I worked one claim out, and then slrucS south for eight miles, ana again found gold. Jcasop came next clay, and was very lucky, as he got into a little gull}', about 100 yards in length, and half a mile above us, where he made 50oz. a clay. The least on that claim a day was 30oz. between four men. But the blacks were very troublesome. On tho head of tho Stoney and Sandy Creeks one party of six were attacked, when one was speared and killed. The body of the unfortunate man was borne away by the savages, who show no mercy, but roast and eat their victims. Immediately after this, another miner, whilo going along with his mate and two horses, at tho head of Oukey Creek, was speared through the heart, but his mato shot the black on the spot. The natives were so troublesome that wo could not prospect further in that direction. Wo then prospected the Mitchell, but got no Ipayable gold there. There wore about six men on payable gold, four miles from tho Mitchell. Provisions here were reasonable, as they came from tho Bridge ; but on Stony Creek they wero very dear. Tea was 6s. per pound ,• sugar, 3d; rice, 3a } salt, 2s 6d ; potatoes, 3s 6d ; apples, 3s Gd ; and plenty of boof at Is per pound. Mount Mulgrave isa duff er the Commissioner told me so on the 10th of last month. M'Guun's Creek and Pine Crock were only paying tucker ; but one claim near the Butcher's on Sandy Crock, reported 2oz a day, and anothor below the junction of the Sloney was paying a littlo better. Hundreds wove only making luokei 1 , the best part of all the creeks being worked out. I would advise no man to go tboro without sufficient money to buy horses or mules (the latter being the best) to pack up enough for four months of tho rainy season. One good reef has been taken up on the Oakey Creek, near the falls, two and a half miles from the Butchers. I knew one of the prospectors who was knocking out loz a day with the hammer. No reefs arc taken up unless they will pay all expenses. Atßutchers' Creek, Henry DealcMoorhcad and party have a shaft down 30 feet showing good gold. Tho stono will go from Goz. to Boz. to the ton. Its owners aro New Zealanders. They call the claim tho Rise and Shine Prospecting Company. Closo to it is the Edon shaft, down 54 feet. They are putting in a drive on good stone. Tho Quceu of tho North, in Gregory's Gully, is down 50 feet. It is said that the stone will crush 12oz. They get 2oz. a day with a dolly. This locality is taken up by Chinamen, and there are upwards of 1000 of them. There h great jealousy, and I am afraid that blood will bo shed. Food is scarce, and no horses are to be got in Cookstown. I warn those who intend to go to be cautious, as I only arrived by the Hero, and have described affairs just as they were when I left."