REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY IN WES TERN AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 663, 4 March 1864, Page 3

REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY IN WES TERN AUSTRALIA.

(From the Perth Inquirer, January 26 )

JAn expedition is in course of formation, to | sail from Fremantle for the Glenelg territory some time next month. This trip is under--1 taken for the ostensible purpose of verifying the statement of a prisoner in the Convict Establishment, who declared that, in 1856, while mate of a Dutch ship lying in Camdeu Harbor, he landed, and, in the space of two and a half hours, collected 81bs. of gold nuggets, which he afterwards sold to a bullion-dealer in Liverpool for £416. The 'man's name, or alias, is Wildman ; he is a foreigner, and his tale is credited by those who have interrogated him on the subject. It ip, however, not generally accepted as true, nor does it appear probable that he would for so long a period have maintained secrecy, when it is considered that Camden Harbor is an unsettled place, was merely visited on this occason to repair damages, and was not likely to be visited for any other purpose. The only prospect he had of again returning to the spot was by confiding the secret to those who would have assisted by sending a vessel to Camden Harbor, either for the sole purpose of securing the metal, or the passage to or from other ports. He says that the crime for which he was convicted—forgery—was committed in order to raise funds to charter a vessel; but even had he been successful, he could not have concealed the object of hia voyage from the erew —sooner or later they must have known it. We content ourselves with saying that the tale being considered by some to be true, and by others probable, being viewed moreover in connection with the recorded opinion of Sir George Grey that gold will be found near the Glenelg, and with the fact that in some old charts this part of the inland-continent is described as Provincia Aurifera; it has been determined to despatch a party to the spot. Some seven or eight individuals, who have either been gold-diggers in the other colonies, or take an interest in the pursuit, have chartered a vessel of about 100 tons burden, at an expense of about £200 for the trip, and will sail for the North as soon as their arrangements canbecompleted. They have collected subscriptions to the amount of about £.150 cash, besides contributions of

stores,.'&c, and expect to receive much more before they are ready to start. Mr. Panter of the police department, will be the leader of the party, and the man " Wildman " will betakentopomtoutthespot. Muchinterestis tasen m the matter, not so much on acccount oi the alleged gold-field as from a desire to nave fuller information respecting the country winch will be visited