LATEST FROM THE PALMER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4275, 2 December 1874, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE PALMER.

Our files of the Cooktovm Herald (Queensland) are to the 28th October: — The Palmer. —lntelligence of late from the diggings is very meagre, there being no fresh ground yet opened, so far as the news brought by returned diggers conveys. 'There are many men leaving it still for the South for a spell, but their places are being rapidly filled by fresh arrivals from the South, who are flocking to the diggings in large numbers. Bain is anxiously looked for by the miners on the field, as directly there is a supply of water, work in all the present dry gullies and ravines, which are known to be rich, will be commenced in earnest. The bankers, since outlast, have not purchased much gold, and but 7800 ounces will be taken by the Leichhardt this morning, although we know that nearly all the men proceeding by her have more or less gold with them. Notwithstanding the smallness of the shipment it shows well, as since September 2, not two mouths ago, we shipped by steamer, according to official records, 53,54-iozs. 17dwts. 9grs. This quantity has been duly passed through our local Customs, and we know for a fact that, in addition, at the very least 7000 ounces have been taken by private hands which have not passed through the Customs, which gives us a grand total of 65,5-M ounces. 'This quantity of gold shipped in so short a time speaks volumes for the Palmer, and offers substantial proof that it is a good alluvial goldfield. 'The next shipment will be a heavy one, as the escort is expected in the early part of November, and will, wo believe, bring a large quantity with it. Murder nr Blacks. —A few mornings ago Mr. Court, of the firm of Wilson and Court, Palmerville, arrived in town and reported a whole family, well-known on the Palmer and in Cooktown, of the names of Stroh, having been brutally murdered while journeying to the Palmer. Mr. Court, in company with a Mr. Standon, left Palmerville for Cooktown, bringing with them about 201bs. of gold. On reaching the Deighton they found a new track made by a earner named Wilson, whiobavoids somobeavy sandy country. 'This they accordingly took, and soon came on the track of blacks, which they saw for some fourteen or fifteen miles along the road. Here and there they found logs rolled across the tracks to stop drays, as also stakes about 3ft. high in the wheel tracks to stay the progress of the wheels—as the niggers thought. After following the fifteen miles alluded to, it runs along the banks of the Normanby, the other side of it being a perfect network of lagoons, dense scrub, and rich vegetation, infested with game. On reaching that part of the road, Mr. Court heard the noise of blacks, and cantered on to have a “sight” at them, which bo obtained, and found there was a mob of about fifty evidently engaged in something beyond honest pursuits. Mr. Court did not wait, but “bunted” them to the river, into which they plunged, after one or two of them giving signs of distress by jumping into the air. On returning to bis mate on the road, Mr. Court saw at once what the blacks had been up to, for there were all kinds of rations strewn about the road, and close by was a horse-dray, and a short distance off were three bodies—one of a woman stark naked, lying on her back ; and alongside her the body of a girl of five or six years of age, also on her back naked ; further on the body of a man with his trousers on, lying on his face. When Mr. Court found the bodies the hour was about C p.m., and after the sickening sight ho beheld, and having a largo quantity of gold with him, and his ammunition almost expended, ho did not feel up to the work of burying the bodies, especially when so many blacks wore In the immediate vicinity, so decided on pushing along to some teams known to be ahead. After a brisk canter, Mr. Court came up to a camp of teamsters, amongst them being two bullockdrivers who had passed the dray and the unfortunate family at 9 o'clock in the morning on their way up the road, by which it was concluded that the victims had been surprised when nt their dinner, thus dispelling all notions that

the blacks only attack at sunrise. The bullockdrivers, Green and Grant, who had passed the Strohs in the morning, had evidently been intended for victims, as the blacks were noticed all along the road after the drays, and from what Mr. Court observed by their movements they had unexpectedly come across Stroll, and turned off the road, then retracing their steps after the dray. On the camp of teamsters hearing of the murders, a strong prrty well armed was formed for the next morning to start off in pursuit of the blacks, and to recover what property could be obtained for the purpose of handing over to the police. After the party had started Mr. Court for the Normanby Tollco °Nation and there informed the authorities of the facts, and then sent a note to Sub-Inspector Douglas at Puokly Creek barracks. A day or so after the murders had been committed, Mr. Inspector Coward, with Sub-Inspectors Townshend and Douglas came upon the blacks, and “ quietly dispersed” them, after having managed to obtain nearly the whole of the property of the unfortunate victims.