COOLGARDLE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8928, 19 October 1894, Page 3

COOLGARDLE.

TO TH- KD—'OR OF TH-PBES.**. Sir, —Having just received a letter from the now famous Coolgardie, and knowing there are a.. number ofirour vinen anxious to try their' luck, I place it at your disposal, hoping that, if it will not prevent them, it will prepare them for their venture. The letter is dated Coolgardie, September 14th, 1894, and is from a young man .who has seen a good deal of colonial life, and was in a good position in this colony. He.says:—" I arrived here yester r day, after a walk of 120 miles from Southern Cross. Coolgardie is not such a large place as ,1 expected to see, but still there are thousands living just round it, plenty of whom are unemployed. There was a nish on about ten weeks ago, and many of those who came have had to go home again; and there is another rush on at the present time, about 1200 having landed in tbe colony during the post week. This is no place for a man without plenty of money, all the gold there was for a poor man to get having, been worked out, and the labour market is greatly overstocked. Now and again an alluvial find is reported and a rush takes place from Coolgardie, but the finds generally turn out duffers. Only fifteen men got alluvial at Dunn's find, ana I of these only three did well. It is reckoned that every ounce of alluvial has cost £20 to get. As soon as the line to Southern Cross _ completed the —.en will be put on to make it to Coolgardie, as the survey'", is nearly completed. I do not wish to dissuade any one fiom coming here who means to come, but I can say if he has not, plenty of money he will wish he had never come when he gets here. A man with only a small amount of money would have a better chance if the country were well watered, but as it is be has to remain near water, and it is only those with camels who can go right away prospecting. One cannot rely on rain, as there is scarcely ever any, and when it does come one has to be near rocks, as the rain soon disappears into the sand. I have beeu told that more rain falls here, in the summer than in the whiter on account of the heavy thunderstorms, but let that be as it may, the prospector cannot rely on the rain, he always has to get his water from the condenser. Water, sells here at 6d per gallon. Through my letters of introduction I have been enabled to talk with several of the oldest diggers here, and others who have been here since Coolgardie first started, and most of the above remarks are drawn from their, conversations aud experiences. I would suggest that if many young fellows are anxious to have a cut in at Coolgardie, they should forrr* a syndicate, and subscribe a capital of say £150 to £200 or £250, aud let two men go. ont prospecting for them. In this way they would stand an excellent chance ot success, and would still be hold—ig their positions. If they would only subscribe their journey money (£l2 to £13, including all expenses) they would only lose a small sum, and would perhaps stand one of the best chances tney would have iv their lives for making a bit/ of money without hardly any risk. And should the expedition fail- the camels would still be saleaoie, so they would get something back. Camels coat about £50, and will livp on the bush. Horses are no good. In the case of £150 being subscribed only one camel would be bought, and. the expedition could not go so far ont. Of course, three men might be employed with'two camels, only the expenses of living would be increased. The above sum does not include travelling' expenses to Coolgardie, but if two reliable men who are already up here could be appointed these expenses could, of course, be saved. At any race one man should be a man living up here, as a new-comer must wait some time before he can form a correct idea of tbe proper direction to go in, and the ran of things generally. I am told expeditions Btare in *>_—mer just as much as in winter, aa the rainfall at any time is so small as to be quite unreliable. Living up here is cheap, comparatively speaking, say 20s per week, including water. Coolgardie has, I believe, a bright future, but at 'the present moment it" is overdone with men with _lsutficieut money. You wili, doubtless, hear of many more rich finds, but remember it is only the few who get them, chou>—nds only lose; their money. Of course, there are some lnoky ones with only a little money who strike it rich, but the majority repent the day they came. Iv reg_*d to the prospectors appointed by a syndicate, they would not be paid, but only rewarded by .eceiviug a certain share in anything four*— : In conclusion, I advise if any one proposes to come 'to try their look, lor them to take a Cook's ticket from

Dunedin to Southern Cross, via Albany, for £9. The route is quicker, aud the sea jdurney shorter than by Perth. They may have to wait five or six days in Melbourne, which depends very much whether people are rushing up here or not."—Voura, _c, Joseph Korkut*.