COOLGARDIE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4077, 21 February 1894, Page 3

COOLGARDIE.

Western Australia, which is known as tbe Cinderella of the colonies, is beginning to gird up its loins and show that it pan ta.ke a foremost place among the sister states, Coolgardie is tbe first proof of the undoubted latent auriferous wealth of tho colony. We have heard much lately about the Coolgardie goldfields, but their undoubted wealth has been obscured by the difficulties attending their working. To get to them involves a journey of great danger and difficulby, while on the field gold is hard to get on account of the want of water. IVom " A Handbook to Western Australia and its Goldfields," which has just been published by Mr Harold G. Parsons, barrister-at-law, we learn same partiou. Jars qf the field. The first report was made by two prospeotors in September, 1893, Mr Sylvester Browne, who is a brothei of the novelist, v Bolf Boldrewood," bought the mine for £6000 and a one-fourth share. Mr Browne is said to have had no more than £100 in his possession at the time of the purchase, and to have recovered the balance of the £6000 from the mine itself. Some 15,0000z have been taken from this reef, and which is said to improve as it gets deeper.. In August, }§93, they* were atjqut 3QQO, men, at and about Coolgardie ; perhaps 500 on the road, and new arrivals reaching the colony at the rate of several hundreds a week. It was almost impossible, however, to get water for drinking, and none could be used for washing out tbe gold. However, the distance is being abridged by a railway on part of the route, and capacious dams and reservoirs are projected. The export of gold from Western A^sjjrajia during the last fpw ye^rs. has heen as fqllows:— 18818., 34930z j 18,89, 15,4920z 3 189Q, 2"2,8060z; 18,91, 30,3110z. ; 1892, #9,,5480z, In 1893 there was a considerable increase.