KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7116, 14 July 1886, Page 3

KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. Whiting upon tho Kimberley goldfield the Silver Age of Juno 16 says :— " One of the first to leave Silver ton in search of the new El Dorado was Mr. I. J. K. Cohn, president of the Barrier Branch of the Miners' Association, and on Monday wo received the following tologram from that gentleman, which speaks for itself. It is dated Derby, 7th Juno, and was despatched from Cossack, tho nearest telegraph station to tho field, on the 14th June ; ' Strongly advise people against coming to Kimberley. No defined field. Every man must be hiß own prospector. Gold only found in bare rock. No water till rainy season. Full particulars by letter.' The mining community of the Bairier have every reason to bo grateful to Mr Cobn for bis timely warning, and his promised letter will bo impatiently awaited. He is sufficiently known to inspire confidence in his lona fides, and his extensive experience in mining will prevent his being easily deceived. If the Kiaberley field is as gcod as some enthusiasts believe it will not be worked out before they have a chance of reaching it, even if they wait another month or two ; and if it should not equal the sanguine expectations formed o£it the delay may save them loss, disapj pointment, and possibly severe hardship. As yet nothing has been found at Kimberley to justify a rush of any considerable size."

Mr. Cohn also telegraphs to the Silver Age on the 24th June : — "No frenh news from diggings. No gold brought in last four weeks. Strongly advise people not to come. For those who will not take advice, Cumbridge Gulf is the best port. I positively assert the whole field has not produced 900oz." — David Collie an old miner, telegraphs from Cossaok, Western Australia, to the effect that the latest news says that the patches have been worked out. No field found.

An Adelaide telegram in the Argus of June 28th sayn :—": — " Messrs Hall and Siattery's large nugget is now on view in the window of Mr. Neßbitt, the jeweller, in Haj-street. Its gross weight is 28oz 6dwt, and it is shows in the same state as when dag ont of tho mine. Tho edges are rough, and the depressions still have some of the soil adhering to them, and quartz can bs seen adhearing to the gold. The length of the nngget is about 4in., tbe average width 2in., and the thickness lin. The Government have purchased the nngget for £100, and intend forwarding it to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. The latest reports from Derby state that another man has arrrived from the digging with 150oz gold. It is believed that the diggers are withholding us much gold as possible for the purpose of preventing a great rush." A Sydney correspondent, writing on the 28th June says : — Whether or not the Kimberley gold fields are 'right' I cannot say — opinion here seems to be very divided on the subject. But certain it is that great numbers are making their way from Sydney to King's Sound and Cambridge Gulf. In one of the morning papers to-day I observed that five steamers (aggregate tonnage, 9000) are advertised to leave Sydney shortly for the above places. For the information of New Zealanders who may be thinking of trying their luck at Kimberley, I may say the rates charged from Sydney to Cambridge Gnlf by steamer are as follow : — Passengers £10 ; horses, £10 ; cargo, £3 per ton ; drays, £3 each. Ey sailing ship the rates are : Passengers, £6; horses, £7; cargo, £3 per ton. Apropos of Kimberley an eminent mining engineer told me that, in his opinion, the whole district is one vast goldfield, and has a great future." The question of the manner in which the buildings on the old gaol site in Devon-street are being built was raised by Mr. Small at the Borough Council on Monday night. He said that one o£ the sites had b«en let to Mr. Jones at merely a nominal rent, on the understanding that an edifice worth £200 should be put up, and should revert to the Council on the expiration of the lease. Mr. bmall pointed out that the wall of the adjoining building, which was an old one, was being strengthened, nnd was being used as the wall of Mr. Jones' new building. He stated that although sufficient new timber had been put in the old wall to support the new building, some worm-eaten wood would remaiD, and would commuaicate agencies of decay to the edifice which was at tho end of 21 years to become tho property of the burgesses. A discussion on the subject arose, but the general opinion expressed was that it was now too late to interfere in the matter, and the matter wob ultimately referred to the proper committee for consideration. (For continuation ot news see 4th page.)

Devon-si