THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7164, 7 September 1886, Page 4

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

AUTIIENTIO ACCOUNTS.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following statement was read before a public meeting held at the Kimberley Hotel, Derby, on July 10, by Dr. Lovegrove. Govi-rnnipnt Resident. It embodies the official report of Serueunt Troy, oE the Webt Aubtriiliuu Police Force :—: — Gentlemen, — Before commencing this report I would like to say a few words in n gard to Serjeant Troy's careful compilation ot* his report. He has spared no pains m getting as s^ood and true a report of the fields, as well as the roads thereto, as it was possible to make ; and in giving an abstract or his report, which itself covers some 25 to 30 saeots of paper, I have picked out nothing but what I consider perfect truth. 1 havo not, as many of you havo been led to believe, been trying to keep this roport from you, but have tried to uot through it as soon ub possible, an as to give )ou v\ ho are h^re assembled a tnie and rr liable statement of what the uiiiurts who are now on the fields are Kcttin_, an also the facility for travelling the two roads, viz , the one from Derby to the gold fields, and the other one from Wyndhara to the same. I must say that Mr. Troy has been very particular in getting information of the two ioads, and instead of favouring the Derby road, las would be presumed, be seems, if anything, to favour the Wyndham one. From what we can gather from men who have travelled the Cambridge Gulf road, the} say it is 280 miles from there to Mount Barrett, and from Mount Barrett to the fields where gold is now obtained, 25 miles, from the Gulf to Hall's Creek or M'Phee's gully, which are at tho seat of the goldfields at present. This road, as far as Mr. Troy can bear, ia impassable for dray or wheel traffic of any kind whatever, but perfectly navigable to pack horses, has good water tho whole way, and feed at equal distances. The furthest distance without water is twentysix mike, but he believes water can bo obtdintd between. From Derby to the fields ip, according to Sergeant Troy's, measurement, 340 miles, nnd nn excellent dray road the whole of tho way, and grass and water at equal distances, the furthest distance, without water being sixteen miles. He tojk twenty-one days to got up, and seventeen days coming back.

REPORTS. I have alao several reports of the diggers, whjuh. some twenty-eight have signed . As Mr. Troy has got each mun'3 signature under each report, I would like to ask you, gentlemen, not to ask for the names, but take my word of honour that I hdve them. The first report was sighed by a wellknown digger, who says: This is the beginning or tail-end'ot what I bolieve to be on extensive field ; but there has been no deep- sinking, just only slight scratching on the surface. ' I am making fair wages. The second says : I got.seven ounces'of gold, anil have not been away from Hall's Creek. I have been ill most of the time since 1 arrived with a bad • hand nnd scurvey. I arrived here on Dec. 7, 188 c». A third one says : I have been digging in Northern Territory for about ten years, nnd think there are good patchep about. Have been digging on the Bluck Elwire ;

, make waged. Anoiher gives Ihe same report. A fi th says: Have hud experience in N«;w Zcalunil, also in Queensland diggings. 1 have got au average of half an ounce per day, but expect to get on a better patch diiectly. 1 believe there is an excellent dray riad fro'ji Derby here, uud makes lit 360 miles. A sixth says that he think 6 this is either the beginning or tail-end of a field. He • believes that gold will be found on the Mary river, and alao on the Margaret, as well as the O.rd. Think it only patchy ,at present. Diggings' principally M'Phee's Gully. A seventh says there ib not £much digging done at preseut for one reason — that there is no waUr at present on the . field ; but he believes that a man with' a broom and shovel could do all they are . doing at present and gat half an ounce per day. • ; An eighth says : I have been a digger for -30 3 ears, and one of a party of five. We bUried tor here in March. We have - succeeded in putting together 92 ounces. Think the lieiii is very scattered, and will

Dot suaiuiu more tbua 200 men. I Another man standing by coincided with the aforesaid remarks, and also was ' one of the five. ' , A tenth says : This is my Becond .visit :to the fields. I went down to Cambridge Gulf- Have found a little gold. 'Found ' the Gulf round very rough.' Think Derby; road best track, although 40-oiilttS longer. An eleventh says : I am an aid digger, and think the prospect of the field very good.. I have been digging in Hall mid , M'Phue'B Gaily a little; -while, and.- have averaged sidwt a day ; that ie, not counting hfray nuggets.'. " ' L ' \ Au-jtner aaya : I and my mate have be-ii uigging a short'tfme, and have got 16 ouuccb ; chiefly lroui M'Phee r 8 Gully, j A thirteenth says: lam doing a little Thin is my second visit to the fieida. j I r c.iound there one Jong gully,- but it id a goud way from water. r l bail to get back to M'l'hee'a. Am getting, an overage bt ' one ounce, per day. , , '" Several others have signed reports nlrriost - tbe same as thoso^lhavo read to you. As Boon as I .have finished examinii g them 1 will let anyone sue them; if hu calls in uliicu lioura. Alho, I ahull only bu too happy to givo nay information relative to the tieJds. .. SERGEANT TROY ' j left the fieida on June 21. A day-, or two .before leaving the .fields a_ uiiner i: named Me'rriott, was wpeared by the natives. ,ile 1 was buriud near by". On tlio way back to Derby he met 2(sl) ' horses, 221 men, IJ.O' I draya and carts, several pedestrians, iiid sixteen wheel burrows. Tho latter 1 .were , very well an their .way; in- fnct r alieaJ 6f tho druye, which epeaks wellfoi tho rcuii.

You Cak Be liAppy if "you will Btop till your doctoring youiself and futuiliee wi<li exptrusivo doctorß or cure-alJe thut do onl^ buroj, uud 'uao simple r«inedits for all your uiimtritß, you will be well add ' happy und SivtJgrcut expensed The greateat rotntdy. for tliia, the great, 'wise, niid , good will to. tell you, is American Cots, ilop Bitters. . B p 20 ThbLboioK oif Honob.— ln addition o the award of ttie Gold Modal (L'Acad6msf Nationals), and also the Silver Medal, awarded to Johu Briusmoad k Sons, ot Wigmorc-Btred 1 . . London, for the superiority of the Piano ex Molted by them Ih«\, year at the Paris 'Exh> bifcion, tho founder of tho firm has boot civ. u- . Ouov.iher of thg Legion of Houii this dta auction boing couferrau on «o Q i\]i