The Sudest Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume XX, Issue 6131, 29 November 1888, Page 2

The Sudest Goldfield.

A POOR PROSPECT.

FEVER AND LAWLESSNESS.

Advices from Cooktown state that the ketch Activity had arrired there from the island of Sudest (whither two or three miners from the Thames are now located), with 20 diggers, most of whom were suffering from ferer. It appears that about a fortnight ago heavy rain fell all over the island, and fever then set in. It generally attacks the victim most acutely in the small of the back, utterly prostrating him. The men who have returned by the Activity say that the next vessel from the island will be crowded. The present population it about 400, and decidedly too maDy for the resources of the field. Heavy rain fell for a week and literally flooded the various camps. The men at work were drenched to the skin during the day, and being unable to light fires or do any cooking on their return to camp, they were compelled to go to bed hungry, tired, and damp. After rain, which fell in torrents, the fever set in. Many miners suffered, and one, James Hodgson, died. A protection area has been applied for by a man named Hurley, who reported having discovered a goldbearing reef 18in. thick, seven miles from the beach camp, in the south-west direct* ion. Quartz specimens have been got in the main creek heavily impregnated with gold. There are good-looking reefa of ironstone and quarts on the island, but when the stone is tested it is found to be barren and rough. The gold obtained, however, in alluvial, points to the presumption that rich reefs are not; far away. On the sth November a daring attempt was made by spielers to rob Gors and Champion's tent, which is kept as a general store. During the day a man known as a spieler changed a £10 note, and saw where the money was kept, in a box near the end of the tent. About midnight Champion awoke, and found two men in the act of carrying off the box containing £300. He called out " Who's there?" aad drew his revolver, bt»t did not fire, and the men made off. An examination showed that the strings of the tent had been cut, making access easy. It was afterwards found out that the two suspected men engaged the cutter Lizzie to take then; away from the Island, early in the morning.