A WARNING FROM THE PALMER DIGGINGS.
A. pijiw of returned., miners from the Palmer thus write from Uooktuwu to the Sfhwij Evening News respecting the Actualconditionof things there :—"The riews from the Palmer is very distressing; several hundred men have returned duriug the past week; provisions are scarce, and when provided are very dear. Flour sells readily at' 2a '6i the pannikin full; sugar is now 3s per lb; tea, 10s ; salt, 2s; and other thiags in proportion ; ■ sickness is rife. It is calculated that one-lhird of the men now on the diggings are sick and unable to move. Hundreds have died here and in the Palmer, and the road is studded with hastily thrown' up graves. Horses fare no better; they are dyiug by the score. To make matters worse no gold worth mentioning has been obtained. We hear sometimes of parties getting a few ounces, but hardly one man in a hundred has made tucker. Ever since our'arrival it lias been ' not raining' but ' pouring' down, and there is ; no sign of the end of it yet. Numbers are penniless and only wait some chance' .to take the out of the place. The P.M. and agent of the ■i.S.iST. Co. have done, a great deal towards; helping the'men' south, but I am afraid that'riots will take place, unless the destitute receive some assistance. Notwithstanding the frightful news received from the diggings, there are about 4,000 meu waiting for the rain to cease, to go up; and about a fourth of this number are provided with homes and rations.- : The rest have about enough to take them up, and then, as they say, chaucetho rest. Provisions in Cookstown are dear and of very inferior quality, but the stores have plenty on hand. Meat is selling here at Is per lb; and very poor stuff at that; bread, Is per loaf of about 2|lb. There are public-houses and stores in g.ilore; and we think the trade must be overdone. In conclusion, let us advise everyone to stay, for the present, whore they are. Our only hope is in something being found out as soon as the weather takes up; but if no new field is discovered,.'wliy,,Grod help us all, for we shall be in a most unfortunate position.*'
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Bibliographic details
Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1816, 18 May 1874, Page 3
Word Count
378A WARNING FROM THE PALMER DIGGINGS. Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1816, 18 May 1874, Page 3
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