A LETTER FROM KLONDYKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 18

A LETTER FROM KLONDYKE.

The following extract front a letter received by a resident of Cromwell from a brother at present mining at Hunter's Creek, Klocdyke is published" in the Cromwell Argus : — "After receiving your last letter I left S&n Fvancisco for thii place I suppose you have heard of ifc by this tims. It is the latest gold excitement. lam now mining on Hunter's Creek. If I make a strike lam coming home. This is the greatest gold find that has ever beea made. In some of the claims th»y 'have washed out as hi*b as 1760<J0l to the psin of dirt, that it inEnfflish money £340 ; but lam sorry tosay that such cases are very rare, and there aremort poor claims than rich ones." lam working on what is called a lay — that is, I find all expenses and work tba claim for 50 per cent, of the profits. At the time of writing this, I am nearly confident I shall make better than wages, which are 6s per hour. I may remark right hero this is a very curious country ; the sun doe 3 no* shin& for five months in the year, and we have to do most of our work in th& dark. It also gets down to 75 below zero, and stays there for an indefinite period. I would not advise anyot>e to come here,, because, ia tbe first place, it co»is a little fortune to get here from New Zealand— at least £500. When you get here it costs another to live, as grub is everything Idol per lb and upwards. I had to pay £27 for a 501b bag of flour laai week ; tobacco is 14s a pound, and bad at that. The second reason for noi coming, wages will go down next winter, and all the country, good and bad, for 50 mile? round Davvson it staked. I h(tv« got three claims, aud vyill work next wintei if they prospect well. This letter will cost me 9a to send out, co it will have to do for you all."