THE KIMBEKLEY RUSH.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1752, 25 May 1886, Page 3

THE KIMBEKLEY RUSH.

_ +. Melbourne, May 20. Reports from Perth state that fully a thousand diggers are now en route to the Kimberley goldfields. Mr C. E. Deeley, of the firm of Alcock Bros, and Co., merchants, Palmerston and Derby, and who ia stationed at the latter place, gives the following interesting particulars relative to the Kimberley goldfield. Writing on March 30th, Mr Deeley says : — " About eight men have made their way in from the supposed goldfields. They report about forty men up there. They have come in to buy rations. It is going to be the biggest field in Australia, in our opinion.

All men who are in have gold with them, bat they are keeping it dark, and have only brought in enough for their wants. I bought 84oz from two men yesterday, 220z from another. We hear of another party who have 2400z with them, one piece weighing 19 oz. It is a beautiful sample of gold, quite as good as that from the Palmer. What we have runs from 6oz to loz pieces, all water worn, except one parcel, which was evidently got on the surface from a rough leader. All lam afraid is a rush with a lot of men with no money. This is the nearest port, and the best road is from here ; but the field is 300 miles inland at least, and poor men cannot get there. It never will be a poor man's diggings — they must have horses." In another letter Mr Deeley says the gales sometimes experienced there are terrific. They come on very suddenly, accompanied by loud thunder and rain, and it is almost impossible to hear any sound while they last. Alligators are numerous in the rivers, and snakes are frequently seen. Speaking of the goldfields again he adds : " There is going to be an awful rush, and I hope the papers will warn poor men that there will also be a lot of misery. Recently in Derby as much as 15s was paid for fifty gallons of water."