KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7863, 19 May 1886, Page 4 (Supplement)

KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

WHAT THE COUNTET IS LIKE. THE ALLUREMENTS AND THE DIFFICULTIES. (South Australian Ileyister. May 1.) A good deal of excitement has been caused by rumours that have recently reached the Colony of a discovery of a very rich goldfield in the Kimberley district. Western Australia, and numbers of men from South Australia and the neighbouring Colonies have been induced by the hope of finding the precious mctal to try their luck. From accounts published in late Western Australian papers, it appears that very little that is definite is known with regard to the field. It is in theKim- ’ berley district, in the vicinity of the Ord river, in the far North. There are no conveniences for getting to the locality, which is quite unknown, and unless persons leaving for the diggings take with them a supply of provisions adequate for several months, there is not much prospect of their doing anything. The nearest settlement to Mount Barret, the reputed centre of the gold district, is Derby, which is situated on the north-west coast of the Colony, at the mouth of the Fitzroy Eiver, which runs into King’s is supposed that the auriferous district, is between 300 and 400 miles from Derby. There is of course not the least semblance of a road or track, and during the wet season many miles of the country between the Fitzroy and Ord Eivers are impassable to heavy traffic, the ground being very boggy. The only use to which the country is put is pasturage. It abounds in streams which are the resort ol alligators, &c. That gold has been got in the district there is no doubt, over 400 oz having been taken to Derby this year; but until some steps are taken by the Western Australian Government to open up the district, it would be unwise for persons without capital to attempt to roach the diggings. The discovery appears to have been made by a man named Hall, who reported to the local authorities that he had found gold. He asked the Government to assist Mm to develop the field by supplying him with horses. The request was complied with, and ten old survey horses were given the party in January last. Since then nothing has been heard of them, but, as they expected to be away six months, it is probable news will be received of the party shortly. The Government Resident in the Kimberley district also fitted out a party to go to the field, but Messrs Malet and M'Ewen, who were the prospectors, only took six weeks’ provisions with, them, And had to return to Derby. Since the .rumour of the find has been circulated, ■several steamers and sailing vessels have been put on the line for Derby, but previous to that the commerce of the place was not sufficient to warrant a regular service oftener than four times a year. The first information of the discovery that was made public is contained in the Perth Inquirer. The news respecting the operations of the prospectors is necessarily brief, compressed into a telegraphic message from the Government Resident (Mr Lovegrove) at Derby to his Excellency Sir Frederick Broome, and dated probably about Friday last, as follows :—" I have very great pleasure in informing your Excellency that most favourable reports have reached Derby from the goldfields. Five parties are down, all bringing alluvial gold, some more, some less. There are now something over 400 oz in the town. The professional diggers epeak highly of the field, and predict one of the largest rushes that have been seen .f Arrears ; -thov-also predict rich reefing .as. a future certainty j held extensive.” Writing on the subject our Perth correspondent states that “The discovery of a payable alluvial goldfield has given a roseate hue to our future, and numberless are the persons who have expressed their intention of proceeding to the fields at once, not one of these aspirants to fortune doubting a complete success.” “The Government has not yet issued regulations as to the management of the fields, nor appointed any officers to attend to them. The matter is, however, under the consideration of the Government, and no doubt an efficient officer and a suitable force will be sent per Otway next week. No Acts of Council are in force in this Colony restricting the immigration of Chinese, so that great fears are felt that they will flock to our shores. At the next ■sitting of Council, however, some measure will be passed to check this distasteful acquisition to our population. The steamers only run between Fremantle and Derby four times a year, but no doubt the Steamship Company will make special efforts to meet the demand which is sure to rise. Having reached Derby, an overland

Journey of hundreds of miles over a poorly watered and rather dangerous country, from the crocodiles, which abound in the rivers and have already shown a fondness for horses, has to be undertaken. The route has been marked out by two men, who sent by the Government in January last for this express purpose. “ The greatest difficulty will be to obtain means of conveyance to the scene of the diggers' labour. Horses are scarce in the district, and the present anticipated rush has already had a very powerful influence in raising the value of these useful quadrupeds. Provisions, too, have already ‘ gone up/ and show signs of a continued upward tendency. Altogether the impression abroad is that no ambitious digger should attempt to reach the fields unless well •supplied with capital, and possessing a stout manly heart to bear and overcome bhe difficulties. In a few weeks, almost at P re ®|int, it would be inadvisable to go at all with horses and provisions from the soutjhem parts of the Colony. I cannot, nor jis it yet ascertained, tell you the exact Potion of the 'fields,' but they most P’o|mhly lie at the head of the Ord and rivers, where the prospectors w «e first at work. Intending diggers need no i fear that the gold will run out, as the country for miles and miles displays strong i n 4ications of gold, and is of the same THlity as the place where the gold is at P r taent thought to he got from.” A correspondent at Derby also deals with th, subject in a letter which states that—- “ during the past year great changes have Wen place in this district. The population hU’ increased, the township has gone ahead be a wonderful extent, and now has two Siod hotels, ffive stores, a blacksmith and wright's shop, and a bootmaker's estabThe new jetty is nearly comP’eted. A goldfield has been discovered in jSio district, and everyone seems to he impatiently waiting for news from the field. After Hall’s party had returned and reported that they had found gold, they went to Perth and asked the Government for further assistance in the shape of horses to carry on their future operations. Their request was immediately complied with, and they received an order

to get ten old survey horses that were not in use on the Pitzroy river. They darted again on their return from Perth ior the / scene of their last find of

gold, intending to be back again in six nonths. Since that nothing has been ieard from them, but as the rainy season ms set in, and is now nearly over, we hope •<o hear something of them shortly. Some time ago the Government Resident, in conjunction with the Road Board, fitted a party to proceed to Mount Barnet, the reputed centre of the gold district. The Government wished the party to report on the field, and the Board wished to have a report on the road leading to the field. Messrs Malet and M'Ewen. were chosen

to go, and on Jan. 1 they started, with only six weeks 5 provisions. The rainy | season set in at once, and prevented them ] making a success of their trip, and fch ey were compelled to return to Derby on March Some of the settlers gave them a dinner

to welcome them back and to hear what they had to say about their journey. The .dinner was got up in first-class style at the Kimberley Hotel. The chair was taken by the Government Resident (Dr Lovegrove), Mr G, J. Poulton being in the vice-chair, and, in responding to his health, Mr Malet said he was sorry he had failed in bringing back a report of the goldfield. In trying to get there he had innumerable difficulties to contend with through the boggy state of the country and the wet weather. He got within 30 miles of Mount Barret, but had then to turn back owing to his rations failing. He had not seen a miner through the whole journey. The country being so soft and the rain so heavy, he could find no trace of their whereabouts. The country he had passed through was magnificent for pastoral purposes, with plenty of water, and the road would bo a good one for teams in the dry season. He believed Mount Barret was the centre of operations, and it was not over 300 miles from Derby.” The Register is allowed to publish the following extract from a private letter received in Adelaide, from Mr C. E.Deeley, for whose special reliableness a gentleman in Christchurch vouches : We are indebted to a member of a prominent firm in this city for having allowed us to peruse some letters which have been received during the week from Mr C. E. Deeley, of the firm of Adcock Brothers and Co., merchants, Palmerston and Derby. Mr Deeley is stationed at the latter place, and gives some interesting particulars relative to the Kimberley Goldfields, and also to the town of Derby itself. Writing on March 30, Mr Deeley says About eight men have made their way in from the supposed goldfields. They report about 40 men up there. They have come in to buy rations. It is going to be the largest field in Australia in our opinion. All the men who are in have gold with them, but they are keeping dark, and have only brought in enough for their wants. I bought 84oz from two men yesterday, 220 z from another, lloz from another, and 7oz from another. We hear of another party close here who have 2400 z with them, one piece weighing 19oz. It is a beautiful sample of gold, quite as good as the Palmer. What we have runs from fine to loz pieces, all water-worn, except one parcel, which was evidently got on the surface from a rough leader. All lam afraid of is a big 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. I send you by this post a piece of grass, which is a fair sample of tho grass round Derby. It is just as thick as a well-sown field of corn, and one can hardly walk through it.” In another letter to his wife Mr Deeley remarks that in Derby the mosquito, ant, and all sorts of insects are very troublesome. The labouring white man demands 15s a day for ordinary work, and it is very difficult to obtain the services of blacks. Chinese labour is also scarce at present, but this difficulty will be overcome shortly. There are very many blacks in the neighbourhood of Derby, but they are not dangerous to associate with. On that side of the Sound the native women all wear bones through their noses. Mr Deeley says the galea that are sometimes experienced there are terrific. They come on very suddenly, with accompanied loud thunder and rain, and it is almost impossible to hear anything round about you while they last. The native rats are a serious trouble. They are very large, and have a tuft of hair on the tip of the tail. The common name applied to them is the " bottle brush rat.” Everything they can get near enough to they destroy. A few miles from Derby Mr Deeley saw a number of alligators in a river, and snakes are also frequently seen, some of them being very long. He says that 150 miles of the 300 which divides Derby and the diggings is over a boggy track. The pearling industry is also an important one. The shelters were then commencing work. Only four boats had arrived, but seventy others were expected shortly. Speaking of the goldfields again, he adds:—" There is going to be an awful rush. Ido hope the papers will warn the poor men—l mean the impecunious men. There will be heaps of gold found, but there will also be a lot of misery.” Recently in Derby as much as 15s was paid for 50 gallons of water. The grass forwarded by Mr Deeley grows from 7ft to 14ffc high, but the sample received was some 4ft only in height.