THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS. The Route and the Place.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2171, 8 June 1886, Page 2

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS. The Route and the Place.

The town&bip of Derby is situated on a spit of land runninsr out into the sea, and i« surrounded on two siJcs and the base of the site by a m.mjrrove swamp oi some" seventeen miles in extent. The exhalations lisinjr fioni tins swamp at night and during the e.uly morning hours are wafted over the township, being productive of much f->ver and ague; in fact, Derby cannot bo considered to be a very healthy place in which to live. Until btely the townspeople had to procure their drinking water four milei from their pla es of residence, conveying it to cheir houses as best they could," but lately it has been found that good water can be piocured in the town by sinking through the trap rock to the depth of about 12ft or loft. The township codsists at piosent of only thirteen buildings, the majority of which arc stores, while one is in reality a so-called "hotel." Besides these, however a nnmber of tents have been recently erected within the boundaries of the town site, ao that Derby can boast, as Melbourne ouce did, of possessing a " Canvas Town,*' while the population consists of not more than 150 or IGO !souls all told. The gold fields, about which so much ha* lately been heard, are situated nearly 400 miles from the port, and are also very difficult of access. None but strong, well-equipped parties can hope to surmont the difficulties of the jonrney between Derby and the new Eldorado. An impression is a broad that the goldfields are situated upou the banks of the Ord River, but that is a mistake. Mr Hardman first discovered " the colour " on the banks of that river, but the diggers who proceeded to the place at once left it, to follow the indications found in other directions, About GoOoz of gold have been unearthed, nearly the whole of which have been take from the ground in the deighbourhood of the Elvire. In no case, as yet known have the prospectors sunk more than 3ft below the surface* the major portion of the gold obtained having been found among the roots of the tussocks of spinifex with which the district abounds. The whole country is very lightly timbered with a species of stunted white gum, which is practically useless except as firewoood. The* gold is very widly distributed, "colour" being found wherever the earth had been "panned out," but "pockets" (and 1 these only of a very small kind) have as yet been found only in the beds of the gullies. In all probability the wealth of the district will depend upou the quartz reefs with which it is so thickly intersected ; and judging from the quars specimens brought from that district that we have seen, a person taking a small stamp- crushing machine there would recoup all the expenses he incurred by so doing in a couple of crushings. Several digeera lately arrived at Derby from the eastern Colonies, but upon find* ing out that they had still 400 miles of travel before reaching the as yet really undefined goldfields, they sold all their belongings and departed in disgust. That there is gold in plenty in the district is certain, but it will take much capital to> properly test and fully develop the auriferous resources of the country. Poor men had better keep away from Derby, or they will arrive there ouiy to become burdens upon a small and struggling community. — Perth Enquirer.

Wo have much pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to the advertisement of Miss E. Jex, who has taken over the Te \roha Club Hotel from Mr Hajrwood. This lady has held responsible positions in inanj of the leading hotels in the colony, and is a most popular hostess.. Under her excellent management and careful supervision the Club Hotel will sustain its reputation as a favourite place of residence for visitors to the Sanatorium. We beg to draw attention to the North NewZealand Farmers Co-operative Association'sadvertisement in another column, ot new seeds now on hand and to arrive Afentioa is directed to several alterations in the advertisements of Mr J. S. Buckland. Yes ! It is certainly t^ne. Aak any off your friends who have purchased there. Garlicfc and Cranwell have >umerous unaskked for and very favourable conwuendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery, and Glass, &c. LadTes and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Craimoll's is the Cheap Furnishrnfr Wharchousc of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your new house is nearly finished, or, you are going to get married, vuu Garluk and Cranwell, Queen-street ,and Lorne -street Auckland. Intending purchasers can km a catalogue seat free.