THE PALMER GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 6

THE PALMER GOLDFIELDS.

The Cookstown Herald of a recent date says :—": — " From, the tenor of the last letter of our correspondent, we may judge by the late news received that what he said as to the richness, &c, of the Palmer goldfields is quite true, (Several men who

have arrived in town the last few days state that the Palmer is everything that has been said about it, and that at the onset of the rush there was a far greater number flocking to the ground with less encouragement than there is at present. Every man who returned from the Palmer river, be he ' pig-iron,' ' corn-husk,' or ' banana ' digger, gives a most encouraging report of the new field, and one and all say that it is the richest and largest goldtield ever opened in Queensland. Nearly every man who cornea from the diggings is possessed of more or less gold, and during the last few days our local banks have had as much business as they can do in banking small parcels. The men that have returned all express themselves in the highest terms of the goldfields, and nearly every man openly states that he will return as speedily as possible, so soon as he can get horses upon which he can depend during the next wet season. Large quantities of gold have arrived in town of late, and during the last few days, and the shipment per Lord Ashley and Boomerang, 8069 oz. was received by that means. Several men, we know for a fact, brought 1000 oz. each, and one man brought not less than 2000 oz. Jessop's party arrived in town bringing 600 oz., which was got in a very little time ; so that, on the whole, everything on the Palmer is in a most flourishing condition. The banks shipped by the Boomerang 6000 oz., all brought down by private hands, and it is said that at least 25,000 oz, are awaiting escort at Palmeryille, for conveyance to Oooktown. "