Telegraphic Despatches.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 429, 27 January 1875, Page 2

Telegraphic Despatches.

LATEST FROM THE PALMER.

We received the following telegram from Mr. J. C. Brown last evening: —

CooktoWiV, January 20:

The first workings at the Palmer are exhausted. A new rush of payable ground has taken place, but it is fully occupied. There is a great deal of prospecting, but no reported new finds have been discovered. There is not much gold coming in, and what does come in is pi inci pally from a few claims. The gold is confined to narrow leads in rock-bound gullies, which are soon worked out. The quartz claims are protected for six months, waitingfor machinery. The weatheris very hot. The rainy season has commenced,, and there is a great deal of sickness at Cooktown. The miners from New Zealand suffer most, and many are dying. The only qualified practitioner was the Hospital Surgeon, but he has left for Sydney. He was receiving from the Hospital fourteen guineas a week, and private practise, but refused to stay. There are only Chinese and quacks practising. Around Cooktown and along the road to the Palmer graves are to be seen the whole distance. It is madness of any one coming here before the end of March. The climate is good from April to November. Provisions at Cooktown and the mines are plentiful, at reasonable prices. There ia a large extent of country unprospected. Numbers of miners airive by each steamer. Many return sick, and many die. JDunedin, January 26th. An alarm of fire was raised this afternoon that part of the premises of Hughes and Harvey, tinsmiths, had caught fire. The flames were quickly extinguished, and the damage done was slight. An inquest was held at the Hospital at noon to-day, on the body of Jno. Holmes, who died from the result of a stab at the North East Valley last Saturday, and a large quantityof evidence was taken. A branch of the Colonial Bank was opened at Wellington to-day. Christchurch telegrams state thai ,the local team is the favourite for the Interprovincial match, and is considered the strongest they have had for years. The weather is very favorable. The Otagb men arrived to-day after a pleasant passage. They seem confident of success, but 2 to 1 is offered against them. Auckland, January 25th. A singular and serious accident has j occurred at Parnell. Dr. Wrights son was boxing with a youth named M'Cleary with gloveß, atfd after the encounter had lasted a few minutes M'Cleary staggered backwards and fell perfectly insensible. Dr Wright was called and found that M'Cleary waa suffering from a paralytic fit. Strenuous efforts were then made to bring him to, but without success, and he was conveyed home to his inotner, who was .deeply distressed at the condition of her son. He remained insensible all Sunday. It is thought he was struck in the wind pipe. To-day M'Cleary^ is • better, although unable to talk. Spectators say that the injury was ' not caused by the bjpw at all,