LATEST NEWS EROM PALMER RIVER AND NORTHERN TERRITORY.
SEVENTEEN THOUSAND OZS. OF GOLD BY ESCORT AND STEAMER, SENT BY A POPULATION OE 800 SOULS. HEAVY ELOODS STILL PREVAILING AND GREAT PRIVATION. SYDNEY. March 21. Official telegrams from the gold Commissioner at the Palmer, forwarded via Georgetown, on February 22, report that at the diggings they have had very heavy floods, causiug much privation and suffering amongst miners. The difficulties with the blacks continue. The supply of rations on the ground is sufficient for present requirements. The teamsters are killing working bullocks, and they sell the beef. The prices of all commodities are unchanged. It is highly dangerous for men, especially on foot, to travel this country except they are armed with carbines or guns, and in parties of at least six. The rain is still threatening. The population on the field is about 800.
EOUKHAMPTON. March 19. The streets are astir with passengers bound for the Palmer. Ihe steamer Leichardt leaves this morning for Cooktown. The Balclutha and the latter leaves for Sydney on Tuesday. Captain Phillips reports that from 10,000 to 12,0000z of gold reached Cooktown a few days hefore the taken away hy the Wonga Wonga. Butchers' meat is selling at Is per pound. Between Cooktown and the Palmer communication is now quite established, and several hundred packhorses have started with rations, so that all in absolute destitution must have been relieved ere this. A firstclass road party is wanted. A new track from the Upper Palmer to Endeavor Biver has been discovered. It lies through very rough broken couutry, only fit for horses. By going round the heads of all rivers, however, it avoids much boggy country. Numbers of miners are leaving the Palmer by this route to avoid starvation. Little or no flour will be for sale for the next two months, and the population will be dependent upon the arrival of packhorses for a supply. There is beef enough for some time, and cattle within 50 miles, but their arrival is delayed by heavy floods and wet weather. The weather has greatly lessened the production of gold. The general health is pretty good, but privations are commencing to tell. The diggings are progressing favourably ; gold is found in gullies and ravines back from the river over an extensive area. Men are still arriving from the Endeavor, The blacks are very bad on the road. Two men have been killed, and three wouudcd. The wounded men arrived in a destitute condition. The native police, under Sub-inspector Dumaresq, are on the road to the Endeavor Eiver. The supply of rations on the ground is sufficient for present requirements. The rain is still threatening. The general health is good, and the conduct of the miners orderly.
POET DAEWIN. March li, Mr Newman, of Tarn Creek, reports that he obtained 3-iOoz of amalgam from the first nine days' sinking, and obtained 750z of amalgam from the copper plates in six days' crushing. The boxes are not yet cleaned, but will retort in about a fortnight.
The Sydney Morning Herald publishes the following document. — Cookstown, Feb. 14, We, the undersigned miners beg that you will publish the following resolutions passed at a public meeting held at Cookstown February 10 : 1. That the reports printed in the papers of the colonies concerning the large amounts of gold that have been got on the Palmer are altogether exaggerated, and must have come from interested parties, and not from miners. 2. That no gold has been got, or is getting, to warrant so large a rush as is setting in here. 3. That what gold has been got has only come from crevices in the rock over which the river is running. 4. That the roads are at present impassable ou account of the heavy raiufalls here.
5. Thot plenty of known minew have returned from the Palmer, who all givo a very poor account of the rush as an extensive goldfield.
6. That we miners advise people intending to come here to remain where they are; and people determined to come to wait till April. 7. Provisions can at present not be packed at all to the Palmer, and if practicable, would cost 2s 3d per lb. for packing. This is signed by eighteen Victorian miners.
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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1163, 31 March 1874, Page 4
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714LATEST NEWS EROM PALMER RIVER AND NORTHERN TERRITORY. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1163, 31 March 1874, Page 4
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