NEWS FROM KIMBERLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7844, 13 January 1887, Page 6

NEWS FROM KIMBERLEY.

(from a correspondent.} Cambridge Gulf, December 2, PROSPECTS FOR GOLD. Since my last communication to you, there has been nothing very startling in the way of J gold finding. Mr. Prioe (Warden of Goldfielde) arrived in town on 27th October, and brought down a few good samples of quartz, bearing gold.. Hβ speaks very highly of the reefs, and should they turn out equal to sample, 1 have every hope that Wyndham will yet go ahead. TOWN ALLOTMENTS. The town allotments were offered for sale by public auction on 2nd November, and according to present state of things brought fabulous prices. I may mention that, with the exception of one lot, which was purchase by Mr. Durack, there was not a bid by any of the residents here. Several lots were purchased by Mr. Spenoer (Customs audit on behalf of an English syndicate. He paid from £100 to £150 per lot. There were also several lots purchased by Mr. Hamilton (agent for the Australian Mutual Provident Society) at about the same figure, whether for himself or on behalf of the society I am not certain, but I am inclined to believe the latter. THE TOWNSHIP SITE. There is some probability of the town being shifted to View Hill. Already there are several stores and two hotels at the Twenty-mile ; and it has been suggested that a tramway be laid from here to the Twenty-mile in order to avoid that occurring. It would be a great expense to the Western Australian Government were such a thing to happen ; and I may almost venture to say that, if the diggings are any good after the wet, we shall bare a tram as far as the Twenty-mile, if not much further. Should the reef prove a success, it will be necessary to havo a tram as far as Dead Horse Creek. Should it be found necessary to extend the line a railway will have to be made. I shall be able to (give you more information about it in my next letter. I am sorry to say that communication between hero and Perth ie likely to be at an end until March, which will be after the cyclones are over. SPEARED BY THE BLACKS. Returned Kimberley diggers will be sorry to hear that Mr. Jim Duraok was speared by the Blasts. The Messrs. Durack have a store in this town and a station on the Ord hirer. It appears that on the day he met his death that he and his brother were out mustering cattle. They had been riding all the morning and after they had boiled their "billy ,, about midday and bad some refreshment, they started for the station again. They had gone about four miles when they came to a ridge running across the plain. They were about 80 yards distant when they caught sight of a lot of heads. They wheeled their horses sharply round, and as they did so a spear wan thrown, and it found a resting - place in Jim Durack , * heart. His brother saw him fall, but could not get off his horse, as hundreds of blacks swarmed on top of the ridge as soon as they saw that they had hit their mark. The brother galloped as fast as possible to the station for assistance. He then returned with another brother and the men working on the station. When they reached the body they found that it had been literally cut to pieces by the natives. After they had buried the remains the two brothers rode into Wyndham and reported the matter to Mr. Hare, Government Resident. He immediately despatched Sergeant Truelove and three troopers and a black tracker to the scene of the outrage, and the Duracka mustered a dozen men at the Twenty Mile, and they have gone up with the intention of shooting every nigger that they set eyes on. The blacks are also getting very troublesome at the Bow and Elvira Riven, and unless tome steps are taken at once it will be almost ap impossibility to get up to the diggings, unites in a large party. MURDER AND DEATET. In the beginning of November it was reported here that a man bad been murdered up at the field by bis mats, and £350 stolen from him. He made down the Derby track, and we have juac received n.svrs that Sergeant Troy, who is stationed on the field, was successful in overtaking him just before entering Derby. He was at once arrested and secured in the lock-up, and will be sent on to Perth by the s.s. Perth, which sails from here tomorrow morning. O'Dounell, the explorer, rode into town last week, and reported that he found a man lying dead on the road, about 40 miles from here. He searched the body, and found £120 in gold and notes, and a few ounces of gold in hie belt.' Ho could not find any papers to aid in identifying the body, therefore, after he had buried it, he rode into town and deposited the money and gold with Mr. Hare, which will in due course be forwarded to the Curator of Intestate Instates., It is a pity that men are so care less, and do not have something about them by whioh they can be identified in case of accident?, as any money found on them would be torwarded to their next of kin, whereas in this case it will go to the Crown. And perhaps the man may leave a wife and children behind him. THE RAPIDO. We have not yet received any information re inquiry into the wreck of the Rapido. Captain Bishop aud Mr. T. W. Robinson contemplate taking her to Queensland and patting her en the slip, and then putting her in the Island trade. I think it very foolish of them to venture out to sea in such a coffin. I can safely say that if they get in the least breeze that she will go to pieces. I do not think by law that she can leave here, and shall certainly not get a clearance if she ships a crew.