The Kimberley Goldfields.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5801, 14 December 1886, Page 3

The Kimberley Goldfields.

[Bt Thlsqraph.]

[FROM OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

(Per Steamer at the Bluff.)

Sydney, Dec. 1. Greville's special message via Port Darwin, from Wyndham, under date Nov. 22, states that diggers are arriving from the field for rations, some with, gold, but there are no buyers. It is impossible to estimate the quantity. All is coarse gold, including several nuggets of from Jdwt to lOoz. There is no permanent field, and all prospecting is towards Wyndham from the hills. The creek and the reefs on the field look well, stone from one making 4oz to the ton. The nearest gold found to Wyudhain is 75 miles distant. Anthony Johnston, a digger from Queensland, was murdered in the vicinity of Hall's Gully, on Oct. 21. His mate, Prank Hooning, & German, disappeared with five pack-horses and JE3OO, The police have gone in pursuit. Business at Wyndham is dull. Several storekeepers are relinquishing, and packers buy and load up at the township twenty miles from here, where the stores and hotels are erected. Dec. G. Greville and Co.'s message from Wyndham, dated Dec. 1, stated that several new reefs have been found, all looking well. John Durack, of Theelgruna station and Ord river, was speared by the blacks on Nov. 19. His cousin, a youth named John Durack, escaped. When the body was found, sixty miles from the homestead, it was riddled with spear-holes. Ludwigson, a digger, overcome by heat, died on Nov. 20, forty miles from Wyndham, and the body was found by O'Donnell, an explorer, •with pack-hor6es, rations and money. A special to the Argus writes : — " There are now about 1000 men on the ground, working with very varied success. A few are doing well, some making tucker, and, I am afraid, many the reverse. However, we know of one man having obtained 2600z in six weeks, and another 2OOoz or more. I am assured that 500oz left Cambridge Gulf in one month, while, perhaps, as many hundreds of ounces have come through Derby."