GILBERT RIVER.

Otago Witness, Issue 930, 25 September 1869, Page 8

GILBERT RIVER.

Some particulars regarding the Gilbert River diggings, inthenorthof Queensland, ore furnished by a private letter published in the Grey River Argus. The writer, who was formerly a miner in the Grey diatriot, says : — " The population is about 2000, and far too many for the gold there ia getting ; by all appearance there is a large extent of coldbearing Country, but nothing rich has been found. In the river itself gold is found for about 40 miles, in some plaoes payable, but like the rest nothing rioh. I have heard there are gold-bearing reefs discovered, but whether this is true or not 1 could not say. One thing is true, here are many reefs, and running in all directions, but east and west mostly. Although there are a few arrivals, apparently the population is decreasing. This seems to be a very unhealthy place. There are even now plenty bad with fever and sore eyes. The fever is of a worse description than fever and ague. Provisions are moderate, but very scarce ; some even have to aubsist for a week on nothing but beef and mutton. 1 have to do with very little flour myself. When there are provisions they have been sold np to now— flour, Is per lb. ; barley, 2s ; oatmeal, 2s ; tea, 5s ; jam, 2s to 2s Gd. Tools plentiful : shovels, 12s ; picks, 10s ; boards, for cradles, have been sold as high as Is per foot. The diatanoe from Norman Town (Carpentaria) is only 200 miles, as some say who have travelled it, and pretty level and well watered, so if this place should go a- head, which I am doubtful about, Norman Town will likely bo our seaport, for the road from Cleveland Bay is, in spite of the false reports they publish, nothing loss than 320 miles, and some of it pretty rough and badly watered."