Western Australia.

Otago Witness, Issue 1798, 7 May 1886, Page 13

Western Australia.

The following letter has been received by a Dunedin resident from a brother-in-law ia Western Australia :— Derby, W.A., April 1, 1886. I received about three months' gathering of letters last week. The rainy season Hefc in, and the rivers became so high and the country 1 'so boggy that travelling became impossible for nearly three months. Gold has been discovered about 800 miles from Derby, and several small parties of men have come in, all of them having gold. Tho magistrate posted up that two men had 150oz. One nugget weighed ISozand somepennyweights. I gave £10 to n digger to fit him out some fiv« mouths ago. He was up there when one party came iv, and T heard was doing well. I expect him down shortly, and will return with him— or indeed I may start before he comes. I have one horse aud a-half share of another. I was very lucky in getting them before the gold news came ; for now they cannot be had in Derby, aud besides there are very few horses m the "ihogold is found at a depth of 18in, and is ovv.l* a very large scope of country, lhere will be thousands of people here m six months. The storekeepers have engaged teams, and they start as soon ns the country is dry. The country is not good for sheep, but splendid for cattle. There is no market, however, for cattle, and so cattle-rearinff is neglected. Sheep-rearing ib equally hazardous, for sheep sell at present for. K>s per head afc Roebourne, some 400 miles from, Dpi by, «i"l to drive them 400 mile* would, likely increase their cash to something like 30s pe*

head. Then all the white men are leaving the . stations for the diggings, so that sheep and shepherds are at the mercy of the blacks. lam off for the diggings, and will write you from Gold Town next mail. D. Sutherland.