Coolgardie.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 September 1894, Page 2

Coolgardie.

GREAT EXCITEMENT.

Coolgardie , August 31. The news that alluvial gold had been found lying on the surface leaked out in the course of last night, added to the excitement in connection with the discovery made by Dunn. The secret of the locality is well kept, although guesses are made that it is known to be not far distant from Dunn’s claim.

Yesterday application for a protection area, 84 acres in extent, situated 40 miles north of Coolgardie, was posted by Dunn. Half an hour later Dunn, mounted on a camel, and escorted by a trooper, started for the mine. Dozens assembled to follow him out, despite the fact that horsemen, camel riders, and teams of all sorts were leaving town every few minutes since midnight. It is understood that the discovery is 15 miles north-west from the 45-Mile, but Dunn refuses to give more explicit directions. It is evident that there is to be a great rush, both for alluvial and reefing claims, and the Londonderry district is for the time being entirely eclipsed. The precise weight of the specimens brought in is 4591b5, which contain ISOOozs of gold, some being pieces an ounce in weight. There are 2000 ounces more stored alongide the outcrop in readiness to be brought in. Up to the present time the cap of the reef only has been broken which discloses masses of gold in all directions. There is almost as much gold in sight as stone. This morning Dunn secured, on behalf of the prospecting syndicate, 33 acres along the line of reef. The lode outcrops sft above the surface, and is from 6ft to 14ft wide in different parts. Dunn says that the reef country borders on rich alluvial deposits. The stone brought in is double the weight of the Londonderry stone of the same size.

Dunn -was the discoverer of the Brilliant True Blue, Sunbeam, and Lone Hand mines, and he has been prospecting this colony for a long time for the same syndicate. He camped 150 miles north of Coolgardie at the time Bayley’s Reward was discovered.

Large parties have left town deolavlaring that they knew the route the camels came. The tramp of horses’ feet could be heard galloping in the direction of the Ninety-Mile till an early hour this morning. During the evening it leaked out that two men who were returning from the Ninety-Mile a few'weeks back met Dunn with four camels and an Afghan at night, 70 miles north of Coolgardie. They therefore conclude that the new find is between- the Ninety-Mile and Siberia. Others say that it is in the direction of the Twenty-Five Mile, or of Lake Carey. Five or six hundred people left town in search of the place. During the latter part of the evening it was reported that Dunn had pegged out five leases at the north and south ends of the discovery for Mr McKenzie. Dunn gave all the credit of the discovery to-the syndicate who employed him. Coolgardie, Sept 1. Camel parties are carrying a host of alluvial workers en route to Dunn’s Wealth of Nations find, in consequence of the rich outputs of alluvial anticipated. Intelligence reached here last night from some parties who left the previous evening for Dunn’s fyid, that they had traced bis camels and found he had struck the Ninety-Mile road at a point 19 miles from Coolgardie. They were then on Dunn’s track, and, believing that they had found the Wealth §£ Nations claim, pegged out all the country round it. It is understood that McCormick’s party, all of whom are regular bush hunters, were amongst the first on the spot. People are still hurrying away to Dunn’s find in large numbers, every manner of conveyance being used. Those who cannot get conveyances are walking. The rush is fully on now ifis known that alluvial gold has been struck. 4 Perth, September 1. \ Mr Alexander Forrest, one of the syndicate, speaking at Perth, stated that Dunn had lodged £7OOO worth of gold in the Bank at Coolgardie, and will lodge £20,000 more there in a few days. Dunn informed him that the mine was worth at least a million sterling. To-day tlie syndicate received an offer from Melbourne of £oo,ooo for a share in the mm