KIMBERLEY NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5558, 28 July 1886, Page 2

KIMBERLEY NEWS.

ASPECTS AND PROSPECTS. A correspondent of the West Australian (Perth) writes an interesting letter ,to that journal, from Derby, from which-w^,ex-tract the following :— ' /. " The paospects of this goldfield are not very encouraging at .present. I have ! ascertained' f fom u reliable : ' authority that [ there were 40 men on the ground last wee season who only got an average of 20oz per man, and that they suffered much for want of boots, provisions, &c. The gold is similar to the Palmer gold,,and was found on the surface of small ravines where water, is obtainable only in the rainy seasons ; consequently we are warned that it is useless for any person to go up ! now with the intention -of fossicking on the old ground. Moore, Hedly, and Weldon, who are said to have been the most successful during the last wet season, arenot satisfied with the old ground and have gone out prospecting new 1 country. Phil. Saunders and party (four men- with 17 horses laden with eight months' provisiens) 'are 'also 1 going" to prospect some new country. Mr Saunders is one of the best bushman in Australia. He found gold in the Kimberley district three-yeara ago, and probably Avould have proved it payable and be entitled to the Government reward were it not that he had to leave the field in order to save the life of his mats, who was disabled. Therefore, I think, tbe best time for people to .arrive at this fitdd is about November, and they should not come without pack-horses, as there is neither "beef nor provisions of any kind on the field for sale at present. The pioneers distinctly state that it id madness fog ttny

person!" to "come here" 'without horses, because the gold "is bo- scattered over a vast extent of rough- country that it is impossible for any f n^ ;to hump tools and provisions sufficient .to be of any use to him. Four hgrj&ttegms and four bullocks teams left.here last .week. v When and how they ." w^:gpt T wSwk Afield (which Is said to be 370' fnfleVt row here) tjme only will-reveal. The horse teams -will go right through, if possible, as theyare laden with tools and 1 prof M<MJ ior diggera who could hot obtain ' pSck'nbres here/ ' The' rate of carriage is £7 per 1001b. "'There are several good ' camming grounds' '-Witii' permanent grass and water on' '^ToaJd, 1 -where business people wiU"prb f ßably ; dp:better than here. Any p'erson'having' the means to open ah'hotefandst'ore'at the foot of Mount Barraft; r w'yre there is permanent grass • arict' wat&; and ! bnly 20 miles from the gold field, would do well, as no person can come down to Derby for stores during the wetWason. Four men have left here with ; 20016 weight ' each on r wheelbarrows. Although Mount Barratt is said to be accessible by wheel .traffic; men who know the road' say it is almost impossible for them to get through. I will x add, that if this becomes 1 ah' extensive field,' with a little gold found in ; various places, there iftnoridoubt.that the>i Chinamen will take advantage of our scattered forces, and out--1 numbers iWjt as they , have done at the Palmetigoldfieldßi unless the Government Iconsideufjthaibf the [issue of miners' rights ,Und)^usin«&Bj licenses; to them j would be i detrimental »to tKe^puolic weal."