Experiences of a New Zealand Digger.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2201, 17 August 1886, Page 3

Experiences of a New Zealand Digger.

A digger who left New Zealand, en route for Kimberley, arrived at the Bluff by the Tarawera lately. He was interviewed by the Bluff reporter of the Southland News. This digger, of 30 years' mining experience, left thin colony in the Wairarapa with a number of others some three weeks ago. I On arriving at Sydney an authentic letter was received by one of the party from a cousin on the diggings. He states that all the parties arriving there had to prospect for themselves, as there was nothing like a wcll-deh'ned goldfield, water was very scarce, and there were no provisions inland with the exception of what the diggers bought, and those had always to bo packed. There were 800 or 000 people at Derby unable to go further owing to the want of horses, withjut which it .was absolutely impossible to proceed to the field. The impression in Sydney is not favourable, and there is nothing like the excitement that prevails in New Zealand. The season of the year is very bad to get to Kimberley, owing to <ihe scarcity of water. ..Freight from Sydney to Kimberloy is about 50<? per ton, lightering to the jetty 20s, and from the jetty to town, 325, in all &i per ton, with agents' chaiges added at Derby. The steamers Catterthun and Simla arrived crowded with passenger^ and horses for Kimberley. All on board were well. The Catterthun lost three. A mass meeting of passengers was held when the Chinese question. was discu.ssed, and a Committee was appointed to mt'morialjsQ the Government with a viow to the Chinese being prohibited from working on .any goldfield for three years after its discovery.