THE COOLGARDIE GOLDFIELD

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4875, 13 November 1894, Page 3

THE COOLGARDIE GOLDFIELD

The following letter, giving further particulars of ilio Coolgardie goldlicld appeared in the Christchuroh Pras' Sib,—Having just received .n letter from tho now famous Coolgnrdic, and knowiug there arc a number of our young men anxious to try their luck, I place it at your disposal, hoping that, if it will not prevent them, it will prepare them for their venture. The letter is dated Coolgardio, September 14th, 1804, and is from a young mau who has secu a good deal of Colonial life, and was in a Jtood position in this Colony. He si*—' 1 ] arrived hero yesterday, after a walk of 120 miles from Southern Cross. Coolgardio is not such a large placo as I expected to see, but still there arc thousands living just round it, plenty of whom are unemployed. There was a rush on about ten weeks ago, and many of these who came have hart to go home again; and thcro is another rush on at thcnrcscnttiiue,aboutl2oohavinglanded in the Colony during tlie pnstweok.This i is no place for a man without plenty j of money, all the gold there was for a! poor man to get having been worked, out, anil the labour market is greatly; overstocked. Now and again an alluvial j fiud is reported and a rush takes place | J'roiu Coolgardie, but the linds: generally turn out duffers. Only. lifteen men got alluvial at Dunn's j find, and of these only three did well, j It is reckoned that every ounce of al-; luvial has cost £2O to get. As soon as: the line to Southern Cross is completed the men will be put on to make it to' Coolgardie, as the survey is nearly com-' 1 pletcd. Ido not wish to dissuade any j ' one from coming here who means to j come, but I can say if he has not plenty | of money, he will wish ho had never ] come, when he gets here. A man with! oidy a small amount of money would j have a better chance if the country were well watered, but as it is he has to remain near water, and it is only those with camels who can go right away prospecting. One cannot relyonrain, as tlicro is scarcely ever any, and when it docs i come ouo has to he near rocks, as the j rain soon disappears into the sand. I ■ have been told tliut more rain falls here in the summer than in the winter on necouut of the heavy thunderstorms, hut let that be as it may, the prospector canuot rely on the rain, he always has to get his water from the condenser, j Water sells here at (id per gallon. 1 Through my loiters of introduction I ■ have been enabled to talk with several, of the oldest diggers here, and others whohavebeen here since Coolgardie first started, aud most of the above remarks are drawn from their conversations and experiences, I would suggest that if many young fellows are anxious to liavo t a cut in at Coolgardie, they should form a syndicate, and subscribe a capital of say £l5O to £2OO or £250, and let two men go out prospecting for them. In this way they would stand an excellent chance of success, aud would be still holding their positions. If they would only subscribe their journey money (£l2 to £l3, including all expenses), they would only lose a small sum, and would perhaps stand one of the best chances tbey would have in their lives for miking a bit of money without hardly any risk. And should the expedition fad the camels would still be saleable, so they would get something back. Camels . cost about £SO, and will live on the bush. Horses are no good. In the case of . £l6O being subscribed, only one "camel would be bought, and tho cxjtfdition could not go so far out. Of three men might be employed with two camels, only the expense of living would be increased. The abovo sum does not include travelling expenses to Coolgardie, but if two rcliahfe men who arc already up here could be appointed, these expenses could, of course, ue saved. At anyratc, one man should bo a mau living up here, as a new-comer must wait some time before he can form a correct idea of the proper direction to go in, and the run of things generally. I am told expeditions start in summer just as much as in winter, as the rainfall at anytime is so small as to he quite unreliable. Living up here is cheap, comparaiively speaking, say 20s a week, including water. Coolgardio has, I believe, a bright future, out at the present moment it it overdone with men with insufficient money, You will,doubtless hear of many more rich linds, but remember it is only the few who get them, thousands will loso their money. Of course, there are some lucky ones with only a little money who strike it rich, hut the majority repent (lie day they came. In regard to the prospectors appointed by a syndicate, they would not bo paid, but only rewarded by receiving a certain share in anything found. In conclusion, I advise if any one proposes to come io try (heir luck, for them to take Cook's ticket from Dunedin to Southern Cross, via Albany for £9. Tho route is quicker, and the sea journey shorter _ than by_ Perth. They may nave to wait live or six days in Melbourne, which depends very much whether people are rushing up here or not."—lours, Ac., Joseph Bobekts.