The Coolgardie Goldfields

Southland Times, Issue 12768, 29 November 1893, Page 2

The Coolgardie Goldfields

(Sydney Telegraph). Mr W. J. Ferris, an ex-mayor of Parramatta, has just returned from a trip to the Coolgardie goldfields, and gives an interesting account of the diggings and his experiences. Mr Ferris describes the field as a wild, waterless waste, but with any amount of the precious metal about it. Mr Ferris took steamer to Albany, thence by train to Perth, thence to Northam, 90 miles away, thence to Doodlekine, 72 miles, by rail; tramp or coach to Southern Cross, 100 miles, and then on to Coolgardie, another 120 miles. He describes the country as the most barren he has ever seen. No grass —nothing but a scattered, stunted sort of undergrowth and spinnifex. Twenty to thirty miles a day was good travelling considering the terrible suffering from scarcity of water, the day’s journey having to be regulated according to the distance between the waterholes. There was good water at the Cold Wells, about 50 miles from Coolgardie, and travellers are allowed to drink as much as they like, but if caught carting it away they are liable to three months’ imprisonment. A more dreary, uninteresting route could scarcely be imagined. It was a trying burden to carry a heavy swag under the burning sun over miles of parched-up, interminable plains. There are three hotels and some good buildings at Coolgardie, and a population of about 2300, but that number is daily decreasing, as hundreds are leaving owing to the scarcity of water. The main water supply is a bore sunk by the Government, from which is obtained a very brackish fluid, which is sold at Id a gallon ; but the supply is so short that every person is allowanced. Water is also carted and sold at Is a gallon, and the carriers make a good thing out of it, some of them earning over L4O a week. The water has to be put through several processes before it is fit for use. Bread, a red brick colour, is sold at Is for a reputed 21b loaf, meat Is per lb, chaff 8d per lb, and little to be had at that; about a thimbleful of whisky Is. In the opinion of many experienced men who had ■ been on the field, Coolgardie will be one of the greatest reefing fields yet found in Australia, but until water is struck they will never be developed. Some are getting good wages at alluvial. The wash-dirt is on the surface, and runs from 6in to 2ft in depth. Hannan’s find is good property, and shows indications of being full of the precious metal. There is undoubtedly a big future before the field. The climate is very warm in the daytime, but beautiful and cool at night. Coolgardie fields are bound to boom when water and machinery are obtained. It would simply be impossible to exaggerate the statements about the sufferings from the scarcity of water. Only last week two men died from want of water, and a party of five all went raving mad. No less than 200 left the field the day Mr Ferris started back, and in a short time the field must be deserted. There is no more alluvial ground to be obtained, and Mr Ferris says it would be a public service to warn others from going over at present.