THE SUTHERLAND and CAITHNESS GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 508, 25 May 1869, Page 3

THE SUTHERLAND and CAITHNESS GOLDFIELDS.

North of Scotland newspapers received by the last mail report tbe extension of gold discoveries both north and south of tbe strath of Kildonan, where gold was first discovered, and although heavy snow storms prevailed, diggers continued to arrive and to prospect. Before the storm came on, there were 300 diggers at Kildonan alone, and the township was fast assuming an appearance of importance. The wooden houses are all tastefully laid off on both sides of a regular street of mountain heather, which the diggers were deliberating by what name to designate. They had already thrown the houses made of inverted fishing boats "out into the cold" into a street by themselves, with the apt cognomen of "Fisher Eow " The precious metal had also been found in the Brora river, nine miles above the village, at Balnakyll, and up to Cole Castle; also in the branch of the river to Crockancallicb, and, as the rocks skirting both streams abound with quarts, the hope is cherished that it will ultimately turn out a better paying concern than it had been. Another new locality had been added to those on the Sutherland side, viz., Kinbrace burn, near Aucbintoul, which has been found to contain gold, and a good many were prospecting along its course. The gold of the Kinbrace burn is in larger and heavier particles than those of the Kildonan burn, and more like the yield of the S?isgill burn. On the Caithness side, too, it is stated that gold in considerable quantities has been found to exist in the course of the Berridale burn, and even down on the beach at the mouth of the stream some prospectors have succeeded in washing appreciable quantities of it. All access to the course of this stream was, however, strictly prohibited by the Duke of Portland. "Watchers were placed over the ground, and placards posted warning all trespassers off. There were even threats of sending for the military, in the event of the present army of occupation not being able to hold their own. The contrast between the policy of the Duke of Sutherland and that of the Caithness Duke is freely commented on, and in Sutherlandshire the diggers were each contributing a quantity of gold to present to the Duke. It was understood that, as soon as he returned from the Bast, the terraces would be tried by shafts and tunnels.

" Not Guilty," said an Ohama jury, " but, if the prisoner is smart, he will leave the territory before night." He left.