THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 753, 6 August 1886, Page 12

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS.

We are indebtei tc the court-: ay of Mr Seddon, M.H.R., for the following extract from a letter received bv him from an acquaintance who left New Zealand for Kimberley about three months ago : “Derby, 24th June, 1836

“ Dear Friend, —I arrived here at the beginning of the week in good health. The diggings are not as they are reported. About 800 ounces of gold have been obtained, b it all in shallow ground—at the he »d of little gullies—got by scrapfog with a knife. The prospectors have left the field, and are here in Derby. One of them, Slattery, by name, was in our camp, and we had a long yarn with him for two or three hours, and he told us that if he had to go up again he would have to prospect other places, a 3 the old ones are worked out, and he did not know for a certainty where to get a penny weight of gold ; so anybody that goes up will have to prospect for himself. If : you know anyone wishing to come try and stop him till better news is heard. We are going to make a start to-morrow, and prospect for ourselves. The distance is about 400 miles. Some are going up from here ; some are trying to sell their horses (for which they ask a high price) to go back, while others without horses and means, say they will go with wheelbarrows and handcarts ; but whether they will reach the diggings or not is hard to say. . I think it will be a long time you hear from me again, because there is no means of communication yet.”

Ia another part of the letter, writer Btatre» that his party lost two of their best horses on the steamer.