THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7897, 16 March 1887, Page 5

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS.

(from ode own correspondent.] Wyndham, February 3. Since my last report --on the Kimberley Goldfields I am sorry to inform you that, as far as alluvial gold is concerned, I think that it is an entire failure. Mr. McPhee, the prospector, has been out with a party of eight men for the last six weeks, and has prospected the country for miles round, in every direction, but without the desired result. He returned to Hall's Gully last week without having found anything, bar two reefs, which are of an inferior quality. His return, without good news, was the signal for a great number of men packing up their things and returning to Wyndham, with the intention of clearing out by the first opportunity. Within the last ton days, fully 200 men have returned, and from what I can gather from the majority, who have visited the store, there are 300 now on their wAy down ; and I can vouch for the truth of the assertion, as each day brings a fresh party iufco town, McPhee is at the 20 mile, and is oxpected to reach town to morrow. Mr. Jamieson, partner with O'Donnell, during a short conversation I had with him, an his return yesterday, informs me that Kimberley is a miserable failure, and that he is thoroughly sick of it, and intends clearing out by the first opportunity. He says that the reefs may prove a success, but it will take a long time before anything is realised, as the sxpense of gettiLg the machinery, timber, 3t0., up to the field will cost a large amount if money. And I think that any of your readers who have travelled the road will igree with what lam writing. There is not iny timber suitable for reefing purposes up there, or even on the way up ; and it will ill have to be imported and then carted up, which means a very heavy outlay. Of course :here are plenty of people here who have not sntirely given up hopes of something being found. Mr. Burrowes. of the Royal Engineers, a ion of General Burrowes, who at the present ;ime is surveying country for the Victorian Squatting Co., in the district of the Leopold Ranges, on the other Hide of the Forrest [liver, tells me that gold has been found in ■hat district, and showed me a small nugget veighing 2dwts, which he says he picked up n one of the gullies there, and that he would lot be surprised if that did not prove the ocality of the goldfields. He intends trying limself as soon as he has finished for the Victorian Squatting Co. I trust that in my next communication hat I may have something of a more pleasing lature to report. -