THE PALMER RIVER GOLD-FIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1188, 5 September 1874, Page 6

THE PALMER RIVER GOLD-FIELD.

A telegram from Cooktown, dated Aug. 3rd, published in the Rockhampton Bulletin states :—": — " The news from the Palmer Gold-field is very good. All the letters received here state that it is proving one of the best rushes in Queensland, and that large quantities of gold are being got. Miners are working 150 miles towards the rivers Tate and Walsh, and gold is said to be procurable all the way out. Mulligan's party are beyond the Mitchell, and reported to be doing well. Jessep's party divided 670 ounces for four weeks' work. One morning they got 42 ounces. Considerable quantities of gold arrived here (Oooktown) by private hands. One man, a storekeeper, brings 3000 ounces ; a dagger brings 600 ounces ; and other arrivals are reported. A big rush is fully expected here. Horses are not to be had, their average price Wng £40. No drays are procurable, and loading for the Palmer has risen to £104 per ton. Bullock teams do remarkably well. The reefs have been deserted for the alluvial. Flour on the new rush is selling at 3s. per lb , and it is feared that great privations will be suffered unles-t supplies of provisions are sent up before the wet season sets in. It is reported that there is a great deal of sickness on the gold-field, and that the doctors are well employed. There is a great outcry against the wretched inland mail service, on acoount of its irregularity. It is rumoured that Mr. St. George refuses the Police Magistracy at Cooktown, and has sent a memorial to the Government, asking for the appointment at Somerset. A fine cedar forest has been discovered on the Daintree River. The steamer Lord Ashley leaves with a considerable number of passengers, mostly successful returned diggers from the Palmer. It is known that they have taken large quantities of gold. The blacks are now quiet throughout the district. Please warn people against rushing here unless armed and well provided with horses and provisions, as they will soon have the wet season before them." A later telegram, dated August 6th, is as follows : " The news from the Palmer is good as ever. The rush is extending, Sandy Creek being worked out and fresh ground opening. Jessep's party leave here to-day for the south with sixty (60) pounds weight of gold. Altogether, the Boomerang (s), takes eight thousand (8000) ozs., brought down by private hands. Uis reported that there are upwards of twenty thousand (20,000) ozs. still on the gold-field. The passengers by the Boomerang (s) are nearly all lucky diggers. Mr. H. E. King intends bringing up a machine for the Palmer reefs before the wet season sets in. Horses are still scarce, and fetch from £30 to £40 per head. Mr. Alpin Cameron, having been appointed acting police magistrate for Somerset, has started for that place. No mails have arrived from the Palmer for the past fortnight, the cause assigned being that the mailman has bolted for the new rush. The Lord Ashley, which sailed last week, took 2000 ozs. gold, brought down from the Palmer by private hands."